Scientific Name
Sansevieria ehrenbergii Schweinf. ex Baker
Common Name(s)
Blue Sansevieria, Sword Sansevieria, Seleb Sansevieria, East African Wild Sisal, Somaliland Bowstring Hemp
Synonym(s)
Acyntha ehrenbergii, Acyntha rorida, Dracaena hanningtonii, Pleomele hanningtonii, Sanseverinia rorida, Sansevieria rorida
Scientific Classification
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Sansevieria
Description
Sansevieria ehrenbergii is a succulent plant that bears its leaves in 2 opposite rows, forming a sparse fan shape. It develops an up to 7.2 inches (18 cm) long stem with age. The mature leaves are dark green, rounded in cross-section, though with a grooved channel on the inner side, reaching up to 5 feet (1.5 m) in length and 3.2 inches (8 cm) in width. The plant produces offsets from rhizomes, eventually forming tight, relatively dense clusters.
The flowers are grayish-white or grey-green, tinged with purple, and appear in spring.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10b to 11b: from 35 °F (+1.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Place Sansevierias in moderately bright or filtered light. Good locations include a spot in front of a bright, sunny window covered by a sheer curtain. Although the plant tolerates low light, bright light brings out the colors in the leaves. However, intense light may cause the edges of the leaves to turn yellow.
Allow the soil to dry completely before watering, and then water deeply until water drips through the drainage hole. Allow the pot to drain, and discard the water in the saucer. Never allow the soil to become soggy; never let the pot stand in water. Water sparingly throughout the winter. Like most succulent plants that store water in their leaves, Sansevieria rots quickly in excessively wet soil.
Place Sansevieria at average room temperature. Protect the plant from drafts and cold temperatures as it is damaged below 50 °F (10 °C).
Feed the plant once every three weeks throughout the summer. Use a general-purpose fertilizer for houseplants diluted to one-half the strength suggested on the container. Sansevieria is a light feeder, and too much fertilizer makes the leaves fall over.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Sansevieria.
Origin
Sansevieria ehrenbergii is native to northeastern Africa, from Libya south to Tanzania, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
Cultivars
Links
- Back to genus Sansevieria
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
