• Photo of Dracaena trifasciata (Dracaena trifasciatas)

Plant Profile: Dracaena trifasciata

Names

Golden Birds Nest, Good Luck Plant, Mother-in-law's Tongue, Snake Plant

  • Photo of Dracaena trifasciata (Dracaena trifasciatas)

Phonetic Spelling:dra-SEE-nah try-fas-ee-AY-tuh

Genus:Dracaena

Species:trifasciata

Family:Asparagaceae

The Snake Plant is a favored choice for indoor gardening and serves as an effective ground cover in interior landscaping. Renowned for its resilience, this plant is easy to cultivate and remarkably hard to kill, thriving even in low-light conditions. Nevertheless, it does best in bright light and well-drained soil. It's crucial to avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot. During the spring and summer months, allow the soil to dry out between waterings, while in winter, watering should be limited to every one to two months. The Snake Plant can withstand low humidity and cooler temperatures, around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

In its natural environment in Africa, the Snake Plant flowers in winter, but as a houseplant, it seldom produces blooms. Interestingly, the less attention it receives, the higher the likelihood of seeing a flower.

Often referred to as a "clean air plant," the Snake Plant contributes to improved air quality. Research conducted by NASA in the 1970s revealed that certain common houseplants, including the Snake Plant, can effectively eliminate pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia from indoor air. This makes it not only a low-maintenance plant but also a beneficial addition to your home.

Dracaena trifasciata Feature Summary

Dracaena trifasciata Image Gallery

Tags

#houseplant
#easy to grow
#showy leaves
#low light
#low maintenance
#fantz
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#tropical feel

Similar Plants

Dracaena trifasciata is often confused with:

Dracaena trifasciata Feature Summary

Flowers
Inflorescence is raceme. Flowers are minute, greenish-white to cream-colored, sticky, nonfragrant.
White
Green
Leaves
Stiff, upright, succulent leaves grow in rosette or clusters. They are flat, up to 4 ft long and 2-4 inches wide with alternating transverse bands of shades of green. Some varieties have yellow to white bands on the outer edges of the leaves.
Green
White
Gold/Yellow
Cream/Tan
Linear
Lanceolate
> 6 inches
Leathery
Fleshy
1-3 inches
Stem
Acaulescent, having no visible stem.
Insignificant
Poisonous to Humans
Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats).
Whole Plant Traits
Poisonous
Houseplant
Erect
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
Landscape
Container
Houseplants
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses

Dracaena trifasciata Attributes

Dracaena trifasciata: Country Or Region Of Origin

Africa

Dracaena trifasciata: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Dracaena trifasciata Flowers

Dracaena trifasciata: Flower Description

Inflorescence is raceme. Flowers are minute, greenish-white to cream-colored, sticky, nonfragrant.

Dracaena trifasciata: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
White

Dracaena trifasciata: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Dracaena trifasciata: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Dracaena trifasciata Leaves

Dracaena trifasciata: Leaf Description

Stiff, upright, succulent leaves grow in rosette or clusters. They are flat, up to 4 ft long and 2-4 inches wide with alternating transverse bands of shades of green. Some varieties have yellow to white bands on the outer edges of the leaves.

Dracaena trifasciata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dracaena trifasciata: Leaf Color

spa
Cream/Tan
spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green
spa
White

Dracaena trifasciata: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Dracaena trifasciata: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Dracaena trifasciata: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Dracaena trifasciata: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Dracaena trifasciata: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Dracaena trifasciata: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Dracaena trifasciata: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Dracaena trifasciata: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Dracaena trifasciata: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Dracaena trifasciata Stem

Dracaena trifasciata: Stem Description

Acaulescent, having no visible stem.

Dracaena trifasciata: Stem Color

grass
Insignificant

Dracaena trifasciata: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Dracaena trifasciata Poisonous to Humans

Dracaena trifasciata: Poison Symptoms

Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats).

Dracaena trifasciata: Poison Toxic Principle

Saponins

Dracaena trifasciata: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Dracaena trifasciata: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Dracaena trifasciata Whole Plant Traits

Dracaena trifasciata: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Dracaena trifasciata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dracaena trifasciata: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Dracaena trifasciata: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Dracaena trifasciata: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Dracaena trifasciata Cultural Conditions

Dracaena trifasciata: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Dracaena trifasciata: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Dracaena trifasciata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
12a
thermostat
12b

Dracaena trifasciata Landscape

Dracaena trifasciata: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Dracaena trifasciata: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Dracaena trifasciata: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy