Sansevieria cylindrica (san-se-VEER-ee-uh sil-IN-dree-kuh), the African spear plant, is a slow-growing succulent perennial with stiff, cylindrical, spear-like leaves. It belongs to the asparagus family (Asparagaceae).
Botanists now place Sansevieria inside the genus Dracaena (a 2018 Phytotaxa study found that Sansevieria is a herbaceous clade within Dracaena), so you will also see this plant sold as Dracaena angolensis. It is the same plant.
The species name angolensis means “of Angola” (NC State Extension), and Missouri Botanical Garden describes its native range as tropical southern Africa. It goes by several common names:
- African spear plant
- Cylindrical snake plant
- Spear sansevieria
- Bowstring hemp
Sansevieria Cylindrica Quick Care Tips
- Botanical name: Dracaena angolensis (formerly Sansevieria cylindrica; also listed as Sansevieria cylindrica var. patula)
- Common names: African spear plant, cylindrical snake plant, spear sansevieria, bowstring hemp
- Family and origin: Asparagaceae (asparagus family); tropical southern Africa
- Growability: Easy to grow, slow growing, low maintenance
- Hardiness: USDA zones 10 to 11
- Size: About 4 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide (NC State Extension lists up to 7 feet)
- Flowering: Rarely flowers indoors
- Light: Bright, indirect light with some direct sun; tolerates shade
- Temperature: Normal room temperatures; bring it indoors below 55°F
- Soil: Fast-draining cactus or succulent mix in a pot with drainage holes
- Water: About every 2 weeks in summer, monthly in winter; never let it sit in water
- Fertilizer: Light feeding only
- Pests and problems: Root rot from overwatering; mealybugs, spider mites, thrips
- Propagation: Division or leaf cuttings
- Safety: Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
Sansevieria Cylindrica Care
One cultivar stands out. ‘Boncel’ has thicker, shorter leaves that spread from the base like a fan, and NC State Extension notes it is nicknamed the “starfish.”
Mature plants are compact with an almost stubby look, which is lovely in a small pot on a credenza in a complementing decorative container. Our Sansevieria Boncel guide and Starfish Sansevieria guide cover it in depth.
Size and Growth
African spear grows slowly and straight up. Missouri Botanical Garden lists 4 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide for a mature plant, while NC State Extension gives a wider range of 6 inches to 7 feet.
The leaves are round in cross-section, about 1 inch across, and narrow to a point. They grow from a fan-shaped rosette and are gray-green with darker green stripes.
Over time the plant slowly forms dense colonies from underground, spreading rhizomes, which is why division is such an easy way to make more.
NC State Extension notes that it is often confused with the common snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata, formerly Sansevieria trifasciata), whose striped leaves it resembles. If you are looking for a shorter variety with a similar look, check out the Sansevieria Stuckyi snake plant.
Flowering and Fragrance
African spear rarely flowers indoors. Iowa State Extension says it is rare for sansevieria to flower as a houseplant, and NC State Extension says this one will occasionally bloom in a container. Outdoors in the ground it flowers seasonally (Missouri Botanical Garden).
When it does, the spike can reach up to 3 feet tall and carries 1-inch tubular white blooms. NC State Extension describes them as fragrant and tinged pink, and says they can be followed by small, fleshy red berries under an inch across. More in our guide to snake plant flower spikes.
Light Requirements and Temperature
Indoors, give it a brightly lit window (NC State Extension). Missouri Botanical Garden says it prefers bright, indirect light and some full sun. It tolerates shade, but the leaves will not grow as tall or thick there.
Outdoors, Missouri Botanical Garden says it grows in full sun to part shade and should be protected from hot afternoon sun. NC State Extension suggests giving it only morning sun when you take it outside for the summer, to avoid sunburn. See our tips on growing Mother in Law plants outdoors.
More on this: Light Requirements For Snake Plants
For temperature, UF/IFAS says houseplants generally do fine between 65 and 75°F, while Iowa State Extension calls 70 to 90°F ideal for sansevieria. Cold is the limit.
NC State Extension says to bring this plant indoors when temperatures fall below 55°F, and UF/IFAS warns that houseplants left below 50°F for a long time may suffer permanent damage. Keep it away from heating and cooling vents (UF/IFAS).
Houseplant Care: Watering and Feeding
- This drought-tolerant plant does not need much water. NC State Extension’s schedule is about every 2 weeks in summer and monthly in winter.
- Let the soil dry out between waterings. Iowa State Extension says the quickest (and sometimes the only) way to kill a sansevieria is to overwater it.
- When you do water, do it thoroughly until water runs out the bottom of the pot, then empty the saucer. UF/IFAS says never let a houseplant sit in water.
- Overwatering often causes root rot (Missouri Botanical Garden).
- It does not need much fertilizer. Iowa State Extension says frequent fertilizing is not necessary and suggests an all-purpose fertilizer at half or quarter strength in spring. UF/IFAS advises a complete fertilizer every few months for houseplants in general.
Soil and Transplanting
Use a fast-draining potting mix. NC State Extension recommends a mix made for cacti and succulents, and UF/IFAS suggests a coarse, well-drained sand mix in a shallow clay or terra cotta container with drainage holes for succulents.
A shallow clay pot suits this plant: Missouri Botanical Garden says its roots are not deep and its large leaves can make pots top-heavy and prone to toppling. Snake plants do not do well in soggy soil.
Repot when the plant outgrows its container (choose a pot only an inch or two wider; UF/IFAS advises moving up to a pot a few inches larger).
Iowa State Extension says sansevieria does not mind being a bit crowded, but division helps with excessively pot-bound plants. Transplant when the snake plants need separating because of overcrowding, and always use a pot with drainage holes.
How To Propagate African Spear (Cylindrical Snake Plant)
You can propagate African spear by division or by leaf cuttings. NC State Extension notes that it is often sold as rooted leaf cuttings, and that new plants eventually arise from the base of those cuttings.
- Division: Missouri Botanical Garden says it is easily propagated by division. Knock off the old soil and use a sharp knife to cut the thick underground rhizome so each section has both roots and shoots (Iowa State Extension), then pot each division up on its own.
- Leaf cuttings: Cut a leaf into sections 3 to 4 inches tall. The end closest to the base of the parent plant is the bottom, so plant that end 1 to 2 inches deep into a moistened rooting medium (Iowa State Extension).
- Keep the medium moist, not soggy, and be patient. Iowa State Extension says new shoots or plantlets should appear at the base of the leaf section in about two months.
Learn more about Sansevieria Propagation.
Cylindrical Snake Plant Pests, Problems and Safety
Overwatering is the big one: Missouri Botanical Garden says it often causes root rot. Watch for mealybugs and spider mites too. NC State Extension also lists banded greenhouse thrips, fern scale and longtailed mealybug as common insect problems for this plant.
For houseplant insects in general, UF/IFAS says many indoor pest problems can be controlled with insecticidal soap products, and that spraying the plant with a forceful stream of room-temperature water, under the leaves too, removes many insects. Identify the pest before you treat it.
Keep this plant away from pets and children. NC State Extension lists it as toxic if eaten by cats and dogs, with saponin as the toxic principle, and Iowa State Extension calls sansevierias mildly toxic to humans and pets. The ASPCA lists the common snake plant as harmful to dogs and cats.
The leaf tips can be very sharp and cut skin if you are not careful when handling the plant. An African spear growing in a pot 10 inches or larger can also get very heavy to move around.
Suggested Uses for Cylindrical Snake Plant
Missouri Botanical Garden calls it a good low-maintenance indoor plant. It makes a gorgeous ornamental in a pot in any house, and its clean vertical lines suit contemporary designs, especially on a pedestal. In USDA zones 10 to 11, it can also grow outdoors, where Missouri Botanical Garden suggests it as an interesting tall ground cover for shady areas.
Does It Clean the Air?
The research does not support it. A 2020 review of 12 chamber studies in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology estimated that potted plants would need to be packed at roughly 10 to 1,000 plants per square meter of floor space to remove airborne VOCs as fast as ordinary air exchange in a typical building already does.
Iowa State Extension reaches the same conclusion: no evidence that a reasonable number of houseplants remove significant quantities of pollutants in homes and offices.
Recommended Reading
- Are Sansevieria Plants Safe for Dogs?
- Growing Sansevieria Hahnii the Bird’s Nest Snake Plant
- Is The Snake Plant Poisonous to Cats?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the African spear plant?
The African spear plant is Sansevieria cylindrica, now classified as Dracaena angolensis: a slow-growing succulent perennial with stiff, cylindrical leaves that fan out from a rosette. It belongs to the asparagus family and comes from tropical southern Africa. Other common names include cylindrical snake plant and bowstring hemp, and NC State Extension calls it easy to grow.
How often should I water an African spear plant?
About every 2 weeks in summer and monthly in winter, according to NC State Extension. Let the soil dry out between waterings, use a well-draining mix, and let extra water run out the bottom instead of sitting in a saucer. Missouri Botanical Garden says overwatering often causes root rot.
What problems does an African spear plant have?
Missouri Botanical Garden says overwatering often causes root rot, and it advises watching for mealybugs and spider mites; NC State Extension also lists banded greenhouse thrips and fern scale. It is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, so keep it away from pets. See Are Sansevieria Plants Safe for Dogs?.
How do I propagate an African spear plant?
Division is the easiest way; Missouri Botanical Garden says it propagates easily by division. Cut the thick rhizome so each section has roots and shoots. Leaf cuttings work too: Iowa State Extension’s method uses 3- to 4-inch leaf sections, bottom end down in moistened medium, with new plantlets expected in about two months. More in our Sansevieria propagation guide.
Does an African spear plant flower?
Rarely indoors. Missouri Botanical Garden says the flower spike can reach up to 3 feet tall with 1-inch white tubular blooms, which NC State Extension describes as fragrant and tinged pink. Iowa State Extension says it is rare for sansevieria to flower as a houseplant. Read more about snake plant flower spikes.