Sansevieria Black Coral is sold as a variety of Sansevieria trifasciata, the classic snake plant. It is sold for its dark green, sword-shaped leaves with lighter banding, and it is one of the easiest houseplants you can grow. Get the water right and most of the work is done.
A quick name note first. Genetic studies moved the snake plants into the genus Dracaena, so the species is now listed as Dracaena trifasciata by NC State Extension and Missouri Botanical Garden.
As Iowa State University Extension puts it, the group is still widely called sansevieria. You will see Black Coral sold under both names.
Black Coral shows up on a list of sansevieria varieties from UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, alongside whale fin, fernwood mikado and samurai.
The care advice below comes from guides on the species, Dracaena trifasciata, because no extension service or botanical garden publishes a separate care sheet for this one cultivar.
Common names for the species include:
- Snake plant
- Mother-in-law’s tongue
- Good luck plant
- Viper’s bowstring hemp
The “bowstring” name has real history behind it. The University of Maine says the species was used for centuries to make strong cordage for rope, baskets and bowstrings. Today it is grown mostly as an ornamental.
It is an evergreen perennial in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). Missouri Botanical Garden says it is native to tropical western Africa, and NC State lists its origin as West and West Central Africa.
Black Coral Sansevieria Plant Care
Size and Growth
Snake plants grow as a clump of stiff, upright leaves rising in a rosette from a thick rhizome (an underground stem), according to Missouri Botanical Garden. NC State describes the species’ leaves as up to 4 feet long and 2 to 4 inches wide, with alternating bands of different shades of green.
Missouri Botanical Garden says the foliage can reach 4 feet tall in the wild but is often smaller, to about 2 feet, on indoor plants. Black Coral’s own size depends on the plant you buy, so check the nursery tag.
NC State rates the species’ growth rate as medium.
Flowering and Fragrance
Don’t count on flowers indoors. Missouri Botanical Garden says small, fragrant, greenish-white flowers bloom on mature plants in spring, followed by orange berries, but that flowers and fruit rarely appear on indoor plants.
NC State also says the plant rarely blooms as a houseplant. For more, see our guide to the snake plant flower.
The Royal Horticultural Society suggests snipping the flower stalk off at its base once the flowers fade.
Light and Temperature
Give Black Coral bright, indirect light. Penn State Extension says snake plant enjoys bright indirect light and tolerates low-light areas very well, but to keep it out of the direct sun, which can burn it. Missouri Botanical Garden also says to protect it from hot afternoon sun.
Low light comes with a trade-off. Iowa State says the plants tolerate low light very well, although this can lead to muted leaf coloration.
Indoors, normal room temperatures suit it. The Royal Horticultural Society gives an ideal range of 60 to 75°F, and Iowa State says the plants prefer it a little warmer, with 70 to 90°F ideal. Keep it away from cold drafts.
UConn’s Home & Garden Education Center says to avoid anything below 55°F, while NC State says the plant tolerates cool temperatures around 50°F.
Humidity is easy. The RHS says sansevierias like low humidity, so there is no need to mist them, and NC State says the plant tolerates low humidity.
Growing Black Coral Outdoors
Missouri Botanical Garden lists the species as winter hardy in USDA zones 10 to 12, and NC State lists the same zones. Everywhere else, it is a houseplant that can spend summer outside.
Mississippi State University Extension says to move snake plants outdoors once nighttime lows stay above 55°F, and to keep them in bright shade or filtered sun, since direct afternoon sun scorches the leaves. For more, see our tips on growing snake plants outdoors.
A Florida caution. UF/IFAS rates snake plants a high invasion risk, and UF/IFAS Extension Orange County advises keeping them in a pot indoors rather than planting them in the landscape. UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County notes that most snake plant cultivars are offspring of Sansevieria trifasciata.
Watering
Overwatering is the big risk. Iowa State says to water only after the soil has completely dried out, and calls overwatering the quickest (and sometimes the only) way to kill a sansevieria.
NC State says to let the soil dry between waterings from spring to autumn, and to water only every one to two months in winter. UConn suggests about once a month in winter, and sparingly at that. In the warmer months, UConn says to let the soil dry, then water more liberally.
To check, the RHS suggests pushing a finger into the potting mix rather than watering on a schedule. When you do water, both the RHS and Missouri Botanical Garden say to avoid pouring water into the center of the rosette.
The RHS also says to empty any water that collects in the saucer or outer pot so the plant doesn’t sit in it.
Feeding
Black Coral doesn’t need much fertilizer. Iowa State says frequent fertilizing is not necessary, and that an all-purpose fertilizer at half or quarter strength in spring promotes healthy growth. Penn State suggests feeding monthly during the growing season with an all-purpose fertilizer at half strength for a more robust plant. Whichever you choose, follow the product label.
Potting Mix and Repotting
Use a well-draining mix. Penn State recommends a cactus potting mix or one with perlite, and Mississippi State also recommends a mix blended for cacti or succulents.
Use a container with drainage holes, which Penn State says prevents soggy soil. For more detail, see our post on soil for snake plants.
Pick the pot with care. Penn State warns that a rootbound snake plant can break a clay pot, and that taller varieties do best in a heavy pot because the leaves can topple the plant over. Missouri Botanical Garden says wider clay pots help keep the plant stable.
Snake plants don’t need frequent repotting. The RHS says to repot once the roots and leaves fill the container or make it buckle, into a pot only slightly larger than the old one.
Penn State says snake plant likes fresh potting mix every five years or so, and its repotting guide says spring is the best time to repot most houseplants.
Grooming and Maintenance
Grooming is minimal. The RHS says sansevierias don’t need pruning; just cut damaged leaves off at the base. Wear gloves when you do, because the RHS says the sap irritates skin. Dust the broad leaves now and then, as Penn State suggests.
Like Sansevieria zeylanica, Black Coral is an easy, forgiving plant. NC State calls the species quite durable, easily grown and difficult to kill.
Related: Growing The Black Gold Snake Plant
How to Propagate Black Coral Snake Plant
You can propagate Black Coral by division or by leaf cuttings. Division is easier, and it is the best option if you want new plants that look like the parent.
Division. Penn State says snake plants are easiest to propagate by division. The RHS describes the steps:
- Propagate in spring, when the plant is coming back into growth.
- Remove the plant from its pot and pull away well-rooted offsets, or split a large clump into pieces, each with one or more leaves and roots attached.
- Pry the rootball apart by hand, or use a sharp knife or pruners on tough sections.
- Discard damaged or dead sections and pot up only the healthy ones.
- Support tall new divisions with a cane until they root in.
Leaf cuttings. The RHS says to cut off a mature leaf at the base and slice it crosswise into 2-inch sections, keeping track of which end was the bottom.
Let the cut surfaces callus over for a day or two, then insert the bottom half of each piece into damp cuttings mix in a warm spot. Iowa State gives 3- to 4-inch sections, with the lower cut end dipped in rooting hormone.
Keeping the pattern. Iowa State advises keeping a cultivar’s leaf pattern, and says varieties with variegated leaf edges, such as Laurentii, lose that coloration when grown from cuttings.
The RHS says cuttings from variegated cultivars tend to revert to green. If you want more true Black Coral plants, divide.
Black Coral Snake Plant Pest or Disease Problems
Healthy snake plants have few problems. NC State lists no significant problems and says to monitor for mealybugs and spider mites. RHS adds that red spider mites usually appear only in hot, dry conditions, and that vine weevil grubs can feed on fleshy roots.
The biggest threat is root rot from overwatering. Penn State says root rot is common in snake plants because of overwatering.
Iowa State says that if plants stay wet, root rot develops and the leaves turn yellow and collapse. RHS says that if the whole plant is leaning over, not just an odd leaf, check for root rot.
The best defense is prevention: let the soil dry between waterings, use a fast-draining mix and a pot with drainage holes, and never let the pot sit in water.
Is Black Coral Snake Plant Poisonous?
Yes, it is toxic if eaten. NC State rates the poison severity as low and lists vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, nausea and diarrhea among the symptoms. It says the sap can irritate the skin. The ASPCA lists the snake plant as toxic to dogs and cats, with saponins as the toxic principle, and lists nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as signs.
The RHS says to position sansevierias out of reach of children and pets.
More on the question: Is the Mother In Law Tongue Plant Poisonous?
Suggested Uses For Black Coral
Missouri Botanical Garden calls the snake plant a good low-maintenance indoor plant. Black Coral’s upright, dark leaves look sharp in a heavy pot by an entryway, in an office, or anywhere with bright, indirect light.
Do you grow Black Coral? Tell us where yours lives and how it’s doing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you care for a Black Coral snake plant?
Give it bright, indirect light, a cactus mix or a mix with perlite, and a pot with drainage holes. Water only after the soil dries out, as Iowa State University Extension advises, and much less in winter. Penn State Extension says to keep it out of direct sun, which can burn the leaves. NC State Extension says the plant is easily grown and difficult to kill.
How often should I water Black Coral?
Water when the soil has dried out, not on a set schedule. NC State Extension says to let the soil dry between waterings from spring to autumn and to water only every one to two months in winter. UConn suggests about once a month in winter, sparingly. The RHS recommends checking with a finger and emptying any water left in the saucer.
Is the Black Coral snake plant toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists the snake plant as toxic to dogs and cats, with saponins as the toxic principle and nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as signs. NC State Extension rates the poison severity as low and says the sap can cause skin irritation. Keep the plant out of reach of pets and children.
Can Black Coral grow outdoors?
In USDA zones 10 to 12, according to Missouri Botanical Garden and NC State Extension. Elsewhere, Mississippi State University Extension says to move snake plants outside once nighttime lows stay above 55°F, in bright shade or filtered sun. In Florida, UF/IFAS rates snake plants a high invasion risk, and UF/IFAS Extension Orange County advises keeping them in a pot indoors rather than planting them in the landscape.
How do you propagate Black Coral and keep its leaf pattern?
Divide it. Iowa State University Extension advises division to maintain a cultivar’s leaf pattern, and says variegated-edge varieties such as Laurentii lose their coloration from cuttings. The RHS says to propagate in spring, pulling off rooted offsets or splitting the clump so each piece has leaves and roots. Leaf cuttings also root, but the RHS says cuttings of variegated cultivars tend to revert to green.
