Scientific Name
Sansevieria kirkii Baker
Common Name(s)
Star Sansevieria, Bowstring Hemp, Bow-string Hemp, Pangane Sansevieria, Pangane Hemp
Synonym(s)
Dracaena pethera, Dracaena pethera var. pethera, Sansevieria aubrytiana, Sansevieria raffillii var. pulchra
Scientific Classification
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Sansevieria
Etymology
The specific epithet "kirkii (KIR-kee-eye)" honors Sir John Kirk (1832-1922), a physician, naturalist, and companion to explorer David Livingstone.
Origin
Sansevieria kirkii is native to Tanzania and the surrounding region in East Africa.
Description
Sansevieria kirkii (now Dracaena pethera) is a semi-succulent plant with vigorous rhizomes and gray-green to whitish-brown leaves with three to nine dark green longitudinal lines, undulating reddish-brown margins, and mottled with light green on both surfaces. The leaves are up to 28 inches (70 cm) long and up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) wide.
The showy, scented flowers are greenish-white and appear in conical clusters that arise on a stout inflorescence from the center of the plant in summer.
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 north-facing window or 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.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Sansevieria.
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.
