The 11 Most Popular Snake Plant Varieties (with Pictures)

Usually, new plant parents or really busy people fear the worst: killing their plants due to neglect or lack of know-how for a certain species. But Snake plant varieties are resilient to wear and tear and make some of the best indoor options and most common plants you have for building indoor gardens.

The Snake plant is a decorative indoor plant so resistant and resilient thriving on neglect. For some, it may sound too good to be true but this plant really exists, and it’s collectively known as Snake Plant or Mother in Law tongue.

Appreciated for the bright color and distinct shapes, Snake plants are very hard to kill and easy to take care of. Also, they can brighten every room, be it at home or at the office. Snake plants have so much benefits for a house plant.

So, for you, plant lovers, we compiled a list of the most popular Sansevieria types with pictures and growing tips, so you can choose the one that suits your style and home best. Don’t forget that for creating fabulous indoor gardens, you can pair them with other indoor plants and even trees.

Also, if you’d like to read more about Snake Plant’s growing requirements, you can check out our Snake Plant care guide.

1. Snake Plant Compacta (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Compacta’) Dwarf Snake Plant

Also known as Dwarf Snake Plant, it’s one of the heartiest apartment plants and can grow and do well in artificial light or in low light conditions.

Besides having unique evergreen foliage with yellow margins, this snake plant variety has proven to be a really good air purifier plant, according to the NASA Clean Air Study.

To make sure it stays happy, place it in a spot with bright, indirect light and avoid repotting it in large pots, as it prefers to live in groups. It is also suitable for both homes and offices.

2. Golden Snake Plant (Sansevieria laurentii superba)

This snake plant variety has dark green lance type leaves with yellow marginal bands, and it is originally from Brazil.

Commonly known as Vipers’s Bowstring Hemp, it prefers warmer temperatures and indirect sunlight but can survive and grow well indoors, making it suitable for indoor gardens.

It also has a robust root system that allows it to survive in almost any kind of soil, making it the ideal hard to kill house plant.

3. Golden Birds’ Nest (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Golden Hahnii’)

Next on our list of most beautiful and popular Snake plant varieties is the Golden Birds’ Nest. It is a dwarf snake plant and one of the most exciting and appealing types of snake plants due to its egg-yolk leaves with a green central stripe.

A mature ‘Golden Hahnii’ will grow to be 8-10″ in width and, thanks to its robust shape, will look stunning in your home or office.

Tip: Avoid cold areas as it is not resistant to cold weather.

4. Father in Law Tongue (Sansevieria aubrytiana)

Also known as Father in Law tongue, this is one of the loveliest Snake plant varieties. The gorgeous indoor plant has pale-green foliage with reddish dried margins, aspects that make it an extremely ornamental addition to your indoor garden.

5. Silver Birds’ Nest (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Silver Hahnii’)

Another compact dwarf snake plant, it has silver leaves, close to a metallic mint-green. Also known as Banded Bird Nest, the leaves grow in a rosette and this specific type can become larger than other ‘Hahnii’ types.

Place it in a warm spot with enough sunlight. If placed in a low-light environment for a prolonged period, the silvery marking will begin to fade.

6. Mother in Law Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Sansevieria Trifasciata is the most common type of snake plant of all Snake plant varieties on this list. Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is one of the most popular types preferred worldwide for the unique blade-shaped leaves and its erect nature.

7. Variegated Best Snake Plant (Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Laurentii’)

This hardy, drought-tolerant, and air purifying houseplant has beautiful blade-like green leaves and it’s also considered to bring good luck to the owners.

It removes from the air several pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene. If you want fresh air to breathe in your home, this is one of the best and most helpful Snake plant varieties you can host inside without worrying about its maintenance.

8. Spear Orchid (Sansevieria cylindrica v. patula ‘Boncel’)

Commonly known of the Cylindrical Snake Plant, it’s almost a foolproof plant, as it can thrive even if it’s ignored for a long period of time.

This type of snake plant is a great pick for a first-time plant parent or for someone with a busy schedule. They grow around 12 to 24 inches and can be placed in both bright and shaded areas.

9. Mason’s Congo Snake Plants (Sansevieria Masoniana)

It is a semi-succulent plant that has unique wide glaucous leaves that can get up to 4 feet in proper conditions.

It will grow slowly at the beginning, but as it gains momentum, the Mason’s Congo will break out of its plastic containers. It also has an impressive presence and can really change the ambiance in any room.

10.  Twisted Sister Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Twisted sister’)

This is another dwarf snake plant and it has gorgeous bright yellow and green foliage that twists from the base, giving it its unique appearance.

It can grow up to 15 inches, which makes it a perfect pick for a small office or table.

11. Robusta Snake Plant (Sansevieria robusta)

The newest member of Sansevieria’s genus, this plant is originally from India and it goes by the names of Robusta Snake Plant or Robusta Mother in Law tongue.

What is unique about this snake plant variety is its sword-like foliage with both dark and light green leaves with lines and patches crossing the leaf horizontally.

The leaves are overlapping to create almost a vase-like appearance. It also grows up to 16-30 inches and it’s perfect for indoor thanks to its resistance to neglect.

Snake Plant Varieties: FAQs

As usual, before we wrap up our guide today, let’s see a few frequently asked questions and the answers we can offer our readers and gardening community!

How many varieties of Snake plants are there?

The genus Sansevieria, belonging to the plant family Asparagaceae, know around 70 species of flowering plants. Because of their unique looks, most Sansevieria varieties go by the name of Snake Plants. If you want to distinguish different Snake plant varieties among them, it is best to use a plant recognition/identification app.

What are the best conditions to grow a Snake plant?

While  Snake plants grow in almost all conditions and are resilient to different types of environments, no matter how harsh, here are some ideas on how to ensure the proper growth for your Snake plant:

• Use a terracotta pot instead of a plastic one. Terracotta allows the soil to dry better for the optimal development of Snake plant varieties.
• A well-draining potting mix – for succulents and cacti, for instance – also works well with Snake plants, helping it grow at its full potential.
• Don’t forget to place your Snake plant in bright, indirect light. If you want more tips and tricks on how to care for your Sansevieria varieties, check out our care & maintenance guide!

How long does a Snake Plant live?

If you offer it the right living conditions, a Snake plant can live up to ten years with no major interventions. Of course, it can live for more than that, but a decade is usually its average lifespan.

Conclusion

Even if you forget about your Snake plant, you cannot go wrong with it, it only needs the minimum amount of attention and it will reward you with its impressive presence and with purified air. Just make sure you don’t keep the Snake Plant somewhere within the reach of dogs, cats, or toddlers, as it can be toxic to pets and humans.

To care for the Snake plant, all you have to do is remember to water it when the soil is completely dried and to keep it away from cold areas, and you are good to go.

Check out these Plant That Are Best For Your Bedroom and 11 Black Plants For Gardeners.

Now it’s your time to keep the conversation going! Do you grow one or more Snake Plant varieties? Do you have other types you love and would like to share with our community? Share your Sansevieria care and maintenance tips and tricks with us and other enthusiast gardeners in the comment section below!