Sansevieria Hahnii: Bird’s Nest Snake Plant Growing and Care

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Bird’s nest snake plant – Sansevieria hahnii (san-se-VEER-ee-uh HAHN-ee-eye) is one of over 70 different species falling under the heading snake plant.

Potted Bird's nest Sansevieria Hahnii up closePin
Hahnii Snake Plant

Hahnii is a sport or cultivar of the Sansevieria trifasciata Laurentii plant and a member of the family Asparagaceae, with several common names:

  • Bird’s Nest Sansevieria
  • Birdsnest Snake Plant
  • Golden hahnii
  • Good Luck Plant
  • Dwarf Mother in Law’s Tongue
  • Dwarf Sansevieria
  • Dwarf Snake Plant
  • Sansevieria trifasciata Hahnii

Sansevieria plants are native to subtropical areas in Europe, India, and Africa and do well in hot, dry, challenging climates and with poor soil.

A relative of the agave plant, and in its native lands, some of the larger family members find use as a source of textile fiber.

In hot locations (e.g., some areas of Florida, Arkansas, and Arizona) Sansevieria grows as a perennial and is used as a groundcover like an ornamental grass.

It is recommended for USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11.

In all other zones, grow it as a houseplant all year round. It makes an excellent choice as a house plant or office plant in a low-light setting.

The Bird’s Nest Sansevieria ‘Hahnii’

The cast-iron qualities of the snake plants have merit, but not everyone likes their tall stiff appearance.

Several “rosette” varieties of a smaller and more graceful design are available.

These “squashed-down” types known as birds nest Sansevieria varieties are just as tough as any of the older, upright types.

Whoever gave them the name, I don’t know, at least it’s a catchy common name.

The Discovery Of Sansevieria ‘Hahnii’ – Bird’s Nest Snake Plant

A New Plant Named Sansevieria ‘Hahnii’ from the book The Sansevieria Trifasciata Varieties by B. Juan Chahinian

The first dwarf cultivar and the direct parent of most of the other dwarf varieties, this plant was discovered in New Orleans, at Crescent Nursery Company, by W. W. Smith Jr. and patented as an “improved variety” of Sansevieria. The plant bears patent No. 470 and was dated June 3rd, 1941.

The dwarf grew off a trifasciata var. Laurentii plant. This dwarf snake plant develops like a rosette, the leaves growing from the tip of the stem, extending to the underground stem or rhizome. The leaves are spirally arranged around it and their sides are curved upwards they are erect when young, gradually adopting a more slanted posture and turning flat and recurving backward as they become older.

The leaves taper towards their bottom, forming a petiole that widens at the joint to the stem. The leaves, averaging eight to ten, are wide and ovate, ending in a tip of variable length but always short and soft. The width of the leaf may be up to 7.5 cm (3 in.) and the length as much as 15 cm. (6 in.), although these dimensions may be exceeded with the various clones and cultural treatment.

This plant offsets freely, producing at times, new growth of upright appearance.

Sanseviera Hahnii Quick Care Tips

  • Botanical Name: Sansevieria Hahnii
    Common Name(s): Bird’s Nest Snake Plant, Dwarf Snake Plant
    Synonyms: Sansevieria trifasciata Hahnii, Sansevieria compacta
    Family & Origin: Asparagaceae family, native to subtropical areas in Europe, India and Africa
    Growability: Easy to grow and care for
    Grow Zone: 9-11
    Size: Grows up to 6-8 inches tall and wide
    Flowering: Rarely flowers indoors
    Light: Thrives in bright, indirect light but can tolerate low light conditions
    Humidity: Tolerates low humidity levels
    Temperature: Prefers temperatures between 60-85°F
    Soil: Well-draining soil mix
    Water: Allow soil to dry out completely between watering, water sparingly in winter
    Fertilizer: Feed with a balanced fertilizer every 2-3 months during the growing season
    Pests & Diseases: Susceptible to mealybugs and spider mites, root rot if overwatered
    Propagation: Propagate through division or leaf cuttings
    Plant Uses: Great for indoor decoration, air purification, and low-maintenance gardening.

Check out the Birds Nest Snake Plant Varieties of Sansevieria Trifasciata in the video below

Sansevieria Hahnii Care

Size & Growth

The birds nest “Hahnii” snake plant looks like a heavy-textured, open rose that grows slowly, with a dense rosette of dark green leaves with gray-green crossbands

Hahnii Sansevieria is a short, stubby member of the family. It grows no taller than 12″ inches with 6″-8″ inches being the norm.

Give a plant 3″ to 6″ inches to spread. When bird’s nest sansevieria plants become overcrowded, separate them and give each their own pot or container. Learn how to separate snake plants.

The variety ‘Golden hahnii’ has variegated leaves with two or three broad bands of yellow and several longitudinal yellow stripes. The 6″ to 8″ leaves grow in a rosette manner and are sometimes mistaken for a bromeliad.

Never allow water to stand in the center of the plant as this causes rot. Sansevieria does very well when kept with cacti and succulents as its needs are very similar to those plants‘ needs.

You may sometimes experience snake plant leaves falling over or snake plant leaves curling.

Flowering & Fragrance

The evergreen Sansevieria bird’s nest snake plant is grown for its foliage. When overcrowded or stressed it often sends out a stalk of small, inconspicuous but very fragrant greenish/white, tan, or yellow flowers.

Most Sansevieria flowers are sterile and produce orange berries but no seeds.

Dwarf Snake Plant Conditions & Temperature

Sansevieria tolerates low light, and does best in bright light to full shade. and can stand almost any sort of abuse.

Sansevieria can survive very challenging circumstances. But, it is not the best situation for the plant.

Plants suffering from too little light and water and tolerating inconsistent temperatures become stunted and weak and may lack vibrancy in qualities such as variegation.

For bird nests Sansevieria plants to thrive and reach their full potential, keep your plant in bright indirect sunlight at comfortable, consistent room temperatures.

Check out our article on the Lighting Requirements For Snake Plants.

Water Needs & Feeding

Water thoroughly from below or at the base of the plant when the soil becomes dry.

Don’t allow water to stand on the leaves. Be careful not to overwater as this can lead to root rot. Always plant in a grow pot with a drainage hole.

When fertilizing, use an all-purpose liquid houseplant food once in the spring and once in mid-summer. But feeding is not required.

Hahnii plants do well without fertilizer. Because they spread quickly, you will probably find yourself providing fresh soil annually.

Fresh soil should provide plenty of nutrients.

Soil & Transplanting

Hahnii Sansevieria tolerates all kinds of soil conditions. It is not finicky about pH requirements and does well in soil ranging from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.

The plant likes a medium quality, well-draining soil amended with gravel, coarse sand, perlite, or other light, airy material providing good drainage.

A standard cactus or succulent mix combined 50/50 with regular potting soil is an excellent choice for potted plants.

Many gardeners allow Sansevieria to become pot bound and do not transplant more often than once every two to five years.

Not repotting doesn’t hurt the plant. For a better-looking plant and not bother with fertilizing, or transplanting we recommend adding fresh soil every spring.

Grooming & Maintenance

Over time the tough leaves become dusty and dingy looking. Wipe the leaves with a damp paper towel.

Do not mist your snake plant because it leaves water spots on the leaves.

If leaves weaken or naturally die, trim them back. If your plant throws a flower spike, trim it off after it finishes its meek bloom time.

Sansevieria Golden Hahnii excellent as bathroom plantPin

How To Propagate Bird’s Nest Hahnii?

Sansevieria is easy to propagate. In ideal settings, the plant spreads through rhizomes running on top of or just beneath the surface of the soil.

Take leaf cuttings and poke them into the soil (be sure the upside is up) and they will take root and grow.

When you repot Sansevieria, divide the root ball and plant each division in a new grow pot.

More on Propagating Snake Plants

Bird’s Nest ‘Hahnii’ Pest or Disease Problems

Birds nest sansevieria are mostly trouble-free.

Plants kept in poor conditions will not be robust and susceptible to common houseplant pests such as spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs.

As with most plants, overwatering snake plants causes far more problems than underwatering snake plants. Water judiciously as described above to avoid problems with root and crown rot.

Is Hahnii Considered Toxic or Poisonous To People, Kids, Pets?

Keep Sansevieria safely out of the reach of children and pets as all parts of the plant are toxic.

Interestingly, a wild African species (Sansevieria trifasciata) is known to be a favorite food of elephants.

Suggested Sansevieria Trifasciata Hahnii Uses

Sansevieria Trifasciata hahnii and its cousin the Sansevieria ehrenbergii aka samurai dwarf are easy to care for and makes a nice, attractive, trouble-free houseplant.

Their compact shape and durability make the bird nest type snake plant a choice plant for the bathroom, the kitchen, desk, “dish-garden” or terrarium.

Indoors, it tolerates low humidity and goes without water for long periods.

When used outdoors, the plant is drought tolerant and a good choice for xeriscaping.

It will suffer little from under-watering but will suffer greatly from overwatering.

Snake Plants Air Cleaning Claims

Many sources claim NASA found Sansevierias to be one of the best houseplants for clearing benzene, formaldehyde, and the like from indoor air. This is actually a misunderstanding.

What NASA actually found was that the soil in houseplant’s pots, combined with activated charcoal and good ventilation is what actually positively affects indoor air quality.

See our article about the NASA study on houseplants and indoor air quality.

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