Plant Identification Learning Module:
Flowers and Foliage

Sansevieria (Sansevieria spp.)

Commonly called snake plant, sansevieria is a semi-succulent herbaceous perennial. Leaves may be very thick, erect, stiff, leathery, long, and linear or a compact rosette of flattened leaves. They are usually green with contrasting mottled, darker green stripes but may have yellow and/or white stripes along the edges or cross bands. Small, whitish, fragrant flowers are arranged in racemes.


Snake plant
(cc) 2005, Martin Olsson. This photo is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0.

Sansevieria foliage
Photo by and © Derek Ramsey, 2006. This photo is also licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0.

Sansevieria in bird nest form
Sansevieria flower
UF/IFAS