No houseplant collection is complete without a snake plant. Calling everything from St. George’s Sword to the unflattering Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, these sharp-edged plants are actually a family, with many tall cousins to choose from. They are often sold under the same common names, making it difficult to know for sure which plant you actually have.
Sansevieria Zeylanica is a tall, sturdy snake plant with narrower leaves with pale waves of variegation running from edge to edge. sansevieria laurenti on the other hand, it is smaller and has a bold yellow border around its larger, sturdier leaves.
Let’s see what makes these two family members different.
| Sansevieria Zeylanica | Dracaena Trifasciata “Laurentii” | |
| USDA hardiness zone | Areas 9 -11 | Areas 10-12 |
| Scientific name | Sansevieria zeylanica | Dracaena trifasciata ‘Laurentii’, |
| adult size | 4 feet (120cm) | 90cm (3 feet) |
| leaf color | Green with a white tint | Green with yellow edges |
| Rate of growth | Slowly | Medium |
| Habit | Which groups, expansion | band |
| Light requirement: | Full sun and partial shade | Full sun and partial shade |
| the type of soil | Well-drained sandy loam | Well-drained sandy loam |
| soil pH | slightly acidic to alkaline | slightly acidic to alkaline |
| Water frequency: | If dry, weekly | If dry, weekly |
| harmful | Cochineals, red spiders | Cochineals, red spiders |
| Diseases | rotten root | rotten root |
Contents
Difference Between Sansevieria Zeylanica and Sansevieria laurentii
to browse
These plants are almost identical, so the most reliable way to tell them apart is to look closely at the leaves. A key difference between their leaves is the distinctive bright yellow margin of D. laurentii.
Sansevieria zeylanica lacks this stripe, with its speckled waves running from edge to edge of each leaf. In addition to this obvious difference, there are also subtle structural differences. S. zeylanica has narrower and longer leaves, while sansevieria laurentii tends to be wider and more compact.
Flourishing
As I will discuss in more detail in Similarities, none of these plants are very flowery. But if you want them to flower, S. Zeylanica blooms best in the spring. D. laurentii, on the other hand, can produce a rare winter bloom.
growth habit
Both plants are usually bushy and grow new leaves from the underground rhizome. However, D. Laurentii produces clumps of dense growth, while S. Zeylanica is more likely to spread.
There’s nothing wrong with sending long-growing roots around your pot or garden bed, with individual or small clumps of leaves popping up in surprising places.
height and structure
Their different growth habits produce subtle differences in plant structure. The tendency of S. zeylanica to spread will result in a plant with plenty of space between the different groups of leaves.
They can grow surprisingly tall, over four feet. Sansevieria laurentii, on the other hand, tends to stick together, the clumps forming tight clusters of leaves. It is also shorter than S. zeylanica, with an upper part of about 3 feet.
Similarities Between Sansevieria Zeylanica and Dracaena Laurentii
leaf structure
Although there are cosmetic differences between S. zeylanica and D. laurentii, they share some important similarities in their leaf structure. Both plants produce leathery leaves with leathery surfaces and sharp edges.
In fact, their common names often evoke such nervousness, and both plants are marketed as Dragon Tongue, Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, or St George’s Sword.
Light requirement:
Both snake plants tolerate a wide range of light levels. In fact, I’ve grown both in outdoor beds that get full sun with no problem.
Indoors, that means bright, indirect light, although a bit of direct sun won’t bother them either. They do well in partial shade and low light conditions, making them a versatile member of your collection.
irrigation needs
S. Zeylanica and D. Laurentii are arid zone specialists. Its long, leathery leaves lose very little water, even in the harshest conditions.
Let them dry out between waterings, and even during the growing season, once a week is usually enough, and once or twice a month in winter is enough.
Usually I
Any soil capable of drainage will suffice for these two hardy plants. Although they prefer well-drained sandy loam, they will tolerate almost any type of mix, as long as it doesn’t contain excess water.
They don’t care if their soil is acidic, alkaline, sandy, rocky, or full of organic matter. As long as it’s flowing, they’re happy.
fertilizer
None of these plants are big feeders. A general purpose fertilizer diluted by half every three weeks will do.
Over-fertilization sometimes causes growth spurts, where the plant produces leaves that are too weak to support its weight.
Although not dangerous to the plant, the leaves break and droop sadly instead of standing proudly. If you’re not impressed, you can cut them at ground level with no ill effects.
Flourishing
Getting one of these plants to flower reliably is a rare miracle. Both generally prefer to propagate by cuttings or leaf division. But if the plant is root-bound or stressed enough, it may decide it’s best to go to seed, and for that it needs flowers.
Both varieties produce delicate clusters of small flowers on long stems. These flowers are pale, cream to white with a slight green or yellow tint. They are quite fragrant and can produce a surprising amount of fragrance for such a delicate flower.
Plagues and diseases
I don’t know zeylanica or D. laurentii as wet feet. Both run the risk of root rot if you are too heavy on the water. Let them dry out and they will be disease free. A
As for pests, they may attract spider mites or scale insects, but no more so than other plants, and they respond well to treatment. These plants are hardy and resilient.
I often recommend them to novice plant owners as near dead plants due to their strong resistance to pests and diseases.
Toxicity
He’s a brave madman trying to eat one of those tough, pointy plants. Both are mildly toxic to eat and cause nausea or vomiting. However, they are not very tasty because their leaves look more like leather than salad leaves.