Sansevieria and Dracaena

You might remember the sanseviera (Dracaena trifasciata) as the plant that survived your grandmother's too warm living room In the 1960s and 1970s. It needed very little water and could easily be placed in a light spot. In a place further from the window, the plant would grow slower and would need even less water. The plant would quickly show you if it got too much water by developing brown leaf edges or brown spots.

The Sansevieria gradually disappeared, until this species was rediscovered just a few years ago. Today, you will see the sansevieria frequently in the workplace, because it is an air-purifying and easy to maintain plant with few demands. New varieties with unusual colours and shapes began to emerge, leading to a huge resurgence in demand.

Until 2017, the sanseviera was known under the synonym Sansevieria trifasciata, but has been reclassified following molecular examination. This species is in fact a variant of the dragon trees.

The sansevieria is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, which makes it related to the asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). It is native to tropical West Africa in countries such as Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Nigeria, and Zaïre. It is most commonly known as the snake plant, Saint George's sword, mother-in-law's tongue, and viper's bowstring hemp, and a host of other names.

It is an evergreen perennial plant forming dense strands, spreading by way of its creeping rhizome, which is sometimes above ground, sometimes underground. Its stiff leaves grow vertically from a basal rosette. Mature leaves are dark green with light gray-green cross-banding and usually range from 70 to 90 centimetres and some 5 to 6 centimetres wide.

To get this plant to go into bloom outside of its natural environment is difficult. Replicating its natural environment is possible. Its flowers vary from greenish white to cream-colored — some are fragrant at night, others not at all — and have a sticky texture.

The sanseviera yields bowstring hemp, a strong plant fiber once used to make bowstrings. In South Africa, it is used to treat ear infections. Modern scientific studies proved the significant pharmacological activities in antialopecia, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antibacterial, wound healing, etc[1]. However, more research is needed.

The first part of its scientific name, Dracaena, is a feminine form of the Greek word drakon and therefore means 'female dragon'. The second part, trifasciata, is Latin and means 'marked with three bands' as it is a combination of tri ('three') and fasciatus ('bundled' or 'banded'). The last word is also the source of fascism. The name Sansevieria is a variant of the older Sanseverinia and is named in honour of Pietro Antonio Sanseverino (c.1500-1559), a wealthy Italian nobleman.

Because of its popularity now and in the past numerous cultivars have been developed, many of them for variegated foliage with yellow or silvery-white stripes on the leaf margins.

[1] Babu, Prabhu: Dracaena trifasciata (Prain) Mabb. – Traditional use, pharmacognosy, phytochemistry and pharmacology: A comprehensive review in The Journal of Phytopharmacology – 2024. See here.