Sansevieria Boncel Care: Growing The Boncel Snake Plant

Sansevieria ‘Boncel’ is the stubby, fan-shaped cultivar of the Sansevieria cylindrica snake plant. Instead of tall spears, it grows thick, short, tube-shaped leaves that splay out from the base, and it brings a different look to a tabletop, shelf or office desk.

Here’s the first thing to know: ‘Boncel’ and the starfish sansevieria are the same plant. ‘Boncel’ has “thick and shorter leaves” that spread from the base like a fan, “nicknamed the ‘starfish.'”

Its name has changed too. The species, long sold as Sansevieria cylindrica, is now listed as Dracaena angolensis, and sansevieria is now included in the genus Dracaena based on molecular studies. So the tag on your pot may say either name.

Sansevieria Boncel Quick Care Tips

• Botanical name: Dracaena angolensis ‘Boncel’ (formerly Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Boncel’)
• Common names: Boncel snake plant, starfish sansevieria, starfish snake plant; the species is called African spear and cylindrical snake plant
• Pronunciation (species): dra-SEE-nah an-go-LEN-sis
• Family and origin: Asparagaceae; the species is native to Africa, or more specifically tropical southern Africa, depending on the source
• Light: Bright, indirect light; protect from hot afternoon sun
• Water: Let the soil dry out completely; about every 2 weeks in summer and monthly in winter
• Temperature: 70 to 90°F is ideal; bring it indoors when it falls below 55°F
• Soil: Well-drained potting mix, such as one made for cacti and succulents
• Fertilizer: Not needed often; an all-purpose fertilizer at half or quarter strength in spring
• Flowers: Rare indoors; fragrant white tubular flowers tinged pink
• Pests and problems: Mealybugs, spider mites, thrips and fern scale; root rot from overwatering
• Propagation: Division or leaf section cuttings
• Pets: Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten

Sansevieria Boncel Care

Size and Growth

NC State Extension describes ‘Boncel’ as having thicker and shorter leaves than the species, spreading from the base like a fan. For comparison, the species’ leaves are listed at up to 7 feet long and about 1 inch in diameter, and mature clumps of the species at 4 to 6 feet tall. ‘Boncel’ is the short, compact form.

Like other sansevierias, it spreads by rhizomes, the underground stems that send up new shoots called pups, as UF/IFAS Extension in Sarasota County explains. Over time those pups fill the pot. The species’ growth rate is listed as slow, so be patient.

Flowering and Fragrance

Don’t count on flowers indoors. Iowa State University Extension says it is rare for sansevieria to flower when grown as a houseplant, and Missouri Botanical Garden says the species rarely flowers indoors.

When it does bloom, it produces 1-inch fragrant white tubular flowers tinged pink on an upright stalk in summer. A University of Arkansas Extension column on the species says old plants may send up a stalk to two feet tall in midwinter, with inch-long white flowers that have a sweet fragrance. Learn more about snake plant blooms.

Light Conditions and Temperature

Iowa State says sansevieria prefers bright, indirect light, which it describes as light bright enough to cast a shadow but not directly in the sun’s rays. The species prefers warm locations with bright, indirect light and some full sun, and it needs protection from hot afternoon sun. If you move it outdoors for the summer, give it only morning sun to avoid sunburn.

Can it live in a dim corner? The University of Arkansas column says the species can be grown in high, moderate or low light inside the home. The leaves will also not grow as tall or thick in shady conditions, so a brighter spot gives you a fuller plant.

For temperature, Iowa State says average home temperatures are fine, though sansevieria prefers it a little warmer, with 70 to 90°F ideal, and to avoid cold drafts, especially in winter. Bring the plant indoors when the temperature falls below 55°F. For houseplants in general, plants left below 50°F for a long period may suffer permanent damage.

Watering and Feeding

Watering is the part to get right. Iowa State says to water only after the soil has completely dried out, and that the quickest (and sometimes the only) way to kill a sansevieria is to overwater it. The University of Arkansas column agrees: the plant tolerates considerable drought but will be quickly killed if allowed to sit in water.

For a rough schedule, water the species about every 2 weeks in summer and monthly in winter. Treat that as a guide and check the soil first. When you do water, keep going until it runs out of the bottom of the pot, and don’t let the pot stand in water.

Go easy on fertilizer. Iowa State says frequent fertilizing is not necessary, but an all-purpose fertilizer at half or quarter strength in the spring promotes healthy growth.

Soil and Transplanting

Use a well-drained potting mix. One made for cacti and succulents is good. Pick a container with drainage holes. Shallow clay pots are recommended for the species because its roots are not deep and the leaves can make a pot top-heavy. Related: Best Soil For Snake Plants.

There’s no rush to repot. Iowa State says sansevieria doesn’t mind being a bit crowded in its container, and the University of Arkansas column says crowded, rootbound plants often make more handsome specimens than plants that are divided often. When a pot is truly packed, Iowa State says division helps manage excessively pot-bound plants.

Grooming and Maintenance

Boncel needs very little grooming. Wipe dust off the leaves with a damp cloth, and clip any dead leaves off at the base. Rotate the pot now and then so it grows evenly toward the light.

How to Propagate Sansevieria Boncel

Iowa State says sansevieria is easily propagated by leaf section cuttings and division, and the species itself is easily propagated by division.

Division: Iowa State says to separate clumps or rosettes by cutting the thick underground rhizome, making sure each section has both roots and shoots. Sansevieria Boncel separates easily when you repot, and each pup becomes a new plant.

Leaf section cuttings: Iowa State’s method is written with the common snake plant in mind. Cut a leaf into sections 3 to 4 inches tall. The end that was closest to the base of the parent plant is the bottom, so cut a notch in the top to remember which end is up. Insert each section one to two inches deep into a moistened rooting medium. Iowa State says high humidity is essential, so cover the pot with a plastic bag or dome held off the cutting. New shoots or plantlets should appear in about two months.

Details on: Propagating The Snake Plant

Sansevieria Boncel Pests and Problems

Root rot is the bigger risk. Iowa State says that if plants stay wet, root rot develops, causing leaves to turn yellow and collapse, and overwatering often causes root rot in the species.

For insects, watch for mealybugs and spider mites; banded greenhouse thrips, fern scale and longtailed mealybugs are also listed for the species. Check the leaves when you water.

For a small mealybug problem on a houseplant, UC IPM (the University of California Statewide IPM Program) says to dab them with a cotton swab dipped in a solution of 70% or less isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol in water. Test it on a small part of the plant first and watch for leaf burn. UC IPM says insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils or neem oil applied directly can give some suppression, especially on younger nymphs.

For spider mites, UC IPM suggests a water spray or mist on the undersides of the leaves, and if a treatment is needed, insecticidal soap or oil, including neem oil. More detail is on its spider mites page.

Is Sansevieria Boncel Safe for Pets?

No. The species is listed as toxic if ingested by cats and dogs, with low severity poison characteristics. The signs listed include dilated pupils, vomiting, stomach upset, abdominal pain, drooling, weakness and depression. Humans should not ingest the plant either, and Iowa State calls sansevierias mildly toxic to humans and pets. The ASPCA lists the common snake plant as toxic to dogs and cats, with saponins as the toxic principle.

Keep the pot out of reach of pets and children, and call your vet if your pet eats some.

Does It Clean the Air?

You may read that NASA research shows sansevieria removes pollutants such as benzene and formaldehyde. Iowa State explains that the NASA study put houseplants in small sealed chambers, where the chemicals dropped at a slow rate, and says that in reality houseplants have little effect on air quality in a home or office.

A 2020 review of 12 chamber studies in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology calculated it would take 10 to 1,000 plants per square meter of floor space to match the air exchange typical buildings already get. Grow Boncel because it looks great and is easy, not to clean the air.

Final Thoughts

Sansevieria ‘Boncel’ is a compact, sculptural snake plant that rewards a light hand. Give it bright, indirect light, a well-drained pot, and water only when the soil has completely dried out, and keep it away from pets that chew.

Do you grow a Boncel or a starfish snake plant? Tell us how yours is doing.