“Snake plant” covers more than one botanical species—and many plants sold under the name are cultivars or trade-name selections rather than separate species. This curated list brings together familiar varieties and less-common names, with notes where plant labels can be inconsistent. For a reliable choice, compare leaf shape, colour and size, then confirm the botanical name and current seller photos before buying.
How to read snake plant names
The familiar upright houseplant is Dracaena trifasciata, still widely labelled Sansevieria trifasciata. The older genus name remains common in horticultural writing and nursery listings. The broader snake-plant group includes other former Sansevieria species now placed in Dracaena, as well as named cultivars within a species.
The International Sansevieria Society estimates “around 130–140 species and cultivars” and “over 60 cultivars of Sansevieria trifasciata” (undated page accessed 2026). These are society estimates, not a count of currently accepted species or a tally of plants available for sale. The 35 names below are a curated selection, not 35 separate species. Cultivar and trade naming is not consistent across sellers, and not every trade name necessarily represents a stable, distinct botanical cultivar.
35 snake plant types and names to know
Familiar Dracaena trifasciata forms
- Dracaena trifasciata (classic green). The familiar upright, sword-leaved snake plant; commonly sold under its former name, Sansevieria trifasciata.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Laurentii’. Commonly labelled var. laurentii; recognised for yellow margins along its leaves.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Moonshine’. Selected for pale silver-green leaves.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Bantel’s Sensation’. A selected cultivar with narrow, light-coloured striping.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Hahnii’. A compact, bird’s-nest form with leaves arranged in a rosette.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Golden Hahnii’. A compact rosette sold for its gold-edged foliage.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Futura’. A broad-leaved, medium-sized form in the Futura group.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Black Gold’. A familiar cultivar name; check seller photographs and the botanical label, as naming can vary.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Black Coral’. A trade cultivar name; confirm the plant’s identity with the seller rather than relying on the name alone.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Black Robusta’. Another name used for a selected form; compare the listing’s photos and label when distinguishing it from other dark-leaved types.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Futura Superba’. A named selection in the Futura group; its exact appearance can depend on the seller’s naming.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Compacta’. A cultivar name used in the trade; ask for a current photo if the plant’s eventual shape matters to your choice.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Twisted Sister’. A named selection; check seller images to see the form being offered.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Hahnii Jade’. A Hahnii-type trade name. Confirm the exact label and appearance with the seller.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Silver Hahnii’. A Hahnii-type name used for a silver-toned selection; compare actual plant photos when buying.
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Whitney’. A commonly encountered trade cultivar name; seller usage may vary.
Cylindrical leaves and fan-shaped forms
- Dracaena trifasciata ‘Cylindrica’ / ‘Bacularis’. These labels are used inconsistently in trade. Check which plant the seller means rather than assuming the names are interchangeable.
- Dracaena angolensis. Often sold as Sansevieria cylindrica; noted for its cylindrical leaves.
- Dracaena angolensis ‘Boncel’. A compact, fan-shaped cylindrical-leaf cultivar. The RHS lists ‘Boncel’ among the cylindrica cultivars it discusses.
- Dracaena angolensis ‘Mikado’ / Dracaena bacularis ‘Mikado’. The RHS uses S. bacularis ‘Mikado’; sellers may use different genus names. Check the plant label and seller description.
- Dracaena angolensis ‘Patula’. A candidate name whose local use should be checked with the seller before treating it as a definitive identification.
Other species and less-common names
- Dracaena masoniana. Often called whale-fin or shark-fin snake plant for its broad, paddle-shaped leaf.
- Dracaena zeylanica. A species noted for silver-green, mottled foliage.
- Dracaena hyacinthoides. Also called African spear; its former name is Sansevieria hyacinthoides.
- Dracaena pearsonii. Often called spear sansevieria; confirm the species name on specialist listings.
- Dracaena hallii. ‘Baseball Bat’ is a trade name associated with this species, but verify the exact identity with the seller.
- Dracaena kirkii. Variegated selections are offered; check that a listing identifies the particular selection rather than relying on a general species name.
- Dracaena parva. Commonly called Kenya hyacinth.
- Dracaena pinguicula. Known as walking sansevieria.
- Dracaena ehrenbergii. Also called blue sansevieria.
- Dracaena patens. A less-common species name; check specialist seller details when buying.
- Dracaena bacularis. A narrow-leaved species name. Do not assume it means the same thing as a plant sold as ‘Mikado’ without checking the label.
- Dracaena gracilis. A less-common name in the wider snake-plant group; verify the identification with the supplier.
- Dracaena liberica. Another less-common species name to look for in specialist listings.
- Dracaena suffruticosa. A less-common species name; consult the seller’s botanical description and photos before purchase.
Names and identities for less-common plants are not documented as consistently as those of the best-known cultivars. In particular, a trade label alone is not proof that a plant is a distinct cultivar or that a seller’s identification is correct.
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Choose by leaf shape, colour and available space
Start with the plant’s shape rather than its name. Snake plants include upright sword-shaped leaves, cylindrical leaves, broad paddle-like leaves and compact rosettes. Those differences affect how a plant fits a shelf, floor space or windowsill. Next, choose between green, silver-toned, yellow-edged, striped or mottled foliage, keeping in mind that individual trade labels can be unreliable.
- For a compact rosette: look at ‘Hahnii’, ‘Golden Hahnii’ or other Hahnii-type selections.
- For cylindrical leaves: compare Dracaena angolensis and listings for ‘Boncel’. Check the botanical and cultivar names carefully.
- For a broad leaf: Dracaena masoniana is the whale-fin or shark-fin type.
- For yellow margins: ‘Laurentii’ is the familiar choice.
- For pale silver-green foliage: ‘Moonshine’ is a named option; D. zeylanica is described as silver-green and mottled.
Allow for the plant’s mature footprint, not only the size of the specimen in its pot. Snake plants grow slowly, so a larger plant gives more immediate visual impact; the eventual size of a particular selection is not consistently documented across sources. If space is tight, favour a compact or rosette-forming option and compare current photos from the seller.
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Match the plant to the light you actually have
The Royal Horticultural Society recommends bright, lightly shaded positions overall and notes that most snake plants tolerate lower light. Its guide names all-green options including D. zeylanica, D. bacularis ‘Mikado’, ‘Pineapple’, ‘Moonshine’ and ‘Hahnii’ for lower-light settings. Cylindrica cultivars such as ‘Boncel’ and ‘Motum Kenya’ can suit bright light or full sun. These are placement suggestions, not a promise that a plant will thrive in darkness: deep shade is not a substitute for usable light.
Growing conditions can also change the plant’s look. The RHS notes that shade-grown plants may make taller leaves, while sunny conditions can keep plants more compact. Use bright, lightly shaded conditions as a practical starting point; protect a houseplant from intense midday summer sun and cold drafts.
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Care that prevents the common problems
Water only after the compost dries
Let the compost dry between waterings, water sparingly, and reduce watering in winter. Do not leave the pot standing in water. The RHS warns: “Overwatering sansevierias is a common cause of poor health, as the roots are likely to rot.”
Use a draining pot and open compost
Choose a pot with drainage holes and free-draining, peat-free cactus compost, or a loam-based compost amended with grit or fine gravel. The RHS advises: “Use a free-draining, peat-free cactus compost”. When repotting, move up only slightly in pot size; an oversized pot can hold a large volume of compost that stays wet for too long.
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Propagate by offsets or division
Separate rooted offsets or divide a clump to make new plants. Leaf cuttings are another option, but variegated selections may revert to green when propagated this way. Division is the better choice when preserving a named variegated form matters. A clean knife or secateurs can be used to divide a clump.
Keep the plant away from children and pets
The RHS describes snake plants as poisonous and advises keeping them away from children and pets; sap may irritate skin. Choose a location that prevents accidental contact or ingestion.
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Buy by the plant, not just by the label
Garden centres and houseplant retailers commonly sell familiar types. Less-common species and cultivars are more likely to appear through larger online plant stockists, especially succulent specialists. Names and availability vary, so compare the botanical name with current seller photos and ask for clarification when a listing uses several names for one plant.
- Look for firm, smooth leaves rather than soft, damaged or visibly unhealthy foliage.
- Check that the rootball is stable and that the plant is not sitting in persistently wet compost.
- For a particular colour or shape, compare photographs of the actual plant or current stock; a name alone may not guarantee the appearance you expect.
- If you want an immediate display, choose a larger specimen rather than expecting a slow-growing plant to fill out quickly.
Do snake plants clean indoor air?
Do not rely on one snake plant to meaningfully purify a room or improve sleep. Kew notes that noticeable oxygen benefits would require filling the room with snake plants; that is not a realistic reason to choose a houseplant for an ordinary indoor space.
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