Who gets the most out of a Moonshine snake plant, you or your pets? You do. This pale, silvery beauty is an easy houseplant for people, and a poor snack for a cat or dog (more on that below).
- It is easygoing. NC State Extension calls snake plant durable, easily grown and difficult to kill, and says it tolerates low humidity.
- It looks great. The pale, silvery leaves stand out beside darker green houseplants.
- It forgives a missed watering. Mississippi State University Extension says snake plants store moisture in their thick leaves, so they handle missed waterings with ease.
- Air cleaning is not the reason to buy one. A 2020 review in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology looked at 12 sealed-chamber studies and concluded that potted plants do not improve indoor air quality. It found you would need 10 to 1,000 potted plants per square meter of floor space to remove airborne chemicals as fast as the air exchange in a typical building already does (see the FAQ below).
Let’s get into the details. Sansevieria moonshine [san-se-VEER-ee-uh, moon-shine] is a cultivar of Sansevieria trifasciata, a succulent in the Asparagaceae family. The species is native to tropical Africa. Like every snake plant, it also goes by mother-in-law’s tongue.
What Should You Call Moonshine?
Plant lovers may take issue, but Sansevieria is now part of the Dracaena genus. NC State Extension, Penn State Extension and UF/IFAS Extension all use the newer name, so your plant tag may say Dracaena trifasciata ‘Moonshine’ instead.
Descriptions of Moonshine’s look differ. NC State Extension lists silvery-gray leaves with light green blotches and narrow dark green margins, while a University of Connecticut (UConn) article describes a pale green leaf with no pattern in it at all. Either way, expect a pale plant, not the dark green leaf with yellow edges of the classic ‘Laurentii’.
You may run into the similar-sounding names Moonlight and Moonglow. Penn State Extension lists a cultivar called ‘Moonglow’ with broader silvery-green leaves and a narrow dark green band along the margin, but neither its page nor NC State’s mentions ‘Moonlight’.
If your tag says Moonlight, ask the seller which cultivar you are getting. The care below is standard snake plant care, and it applies either way.
Sansevieria Moonshine Quick Care Tips
- Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata ‘Moonshine’ (formerly Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Moonshine’)
- Common Name(s): Moonshine snake plant; snake plants in general are also called mother-in-law’s tongue
- Family & Origin: Asparagaceae family; the snake plant species is native to tropical Africa
- Grow Zone: USDA zones 10 to 12 for snake plant (Missouri Botanical Garden)
- Size: The snake plant species is listed at 2 to 4 feet tall, often smaller indoors (Missouri Botanical Garden)
- Flowering: Rarely flowers indoors
- Light: Bright, indirect light; protect from hot afternoon sun
- Humidity: Tolerates low humidity
- Temperature: Avoid anything below 55°F (UConn); 60 to 85°F is the range Mississippi State Extension recommends
- Soil: Cactus mix, or potting mix with perlite or grit, in a pot with drainage holes
- Water: Let the soil dry between waterings; in winter, about once a month to once every two months
- Fertilizer: Optional; Iowa State Extension says frequent feeding isn’t necessary (half or quarter strength in spring), and Penn State Extension suggests half strength monthly in spring and summer for a more robust plant
- Pests & Diseases: Watch for mealybugs and spider mites; overwatering causes root rot
- Propagation: Division is easiest; leaf cuttings also work
- Pets: Toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA)
Sansevieria Moonshine Care
Size and Growth
The Missouri Botanical Garden lists the snake plant species as 2 to 4 feet tall and says indoor plants are often smaller, about 2 feet. For comparison, the Hahnii ‘bird’s nest’ snake plant grows to only 6 inches, according to Penn State Extension. NC State Extension rates the growth rate as medium.
Flowering and Fragrance
Flowers are rare indoors. On mature plants, the Missouri Botanical Garden says the small flowers are fragrant and greenish-white, and they bloom in spring. Mississippi State Extension says flowering is more likely when the plant is slightly root-bound and gets bright, indirect light.
Related: Read our article for details on Snake Plant Flowers
Light and Temperature
Bright, indirect light suits snake plants best. Penn State Extension and UConn both say so. They tolerate low light, but UConn warns that a plant tucked into the darkest corner may hang on for a few months and then run out of stored resources.
Some morning sun is fine, but Mississippi State Extension and the Missouri Botanical Garden both say to protect the leaves from hot afternoon sun.
Moonshine is a tropical plant, so keep it warm. The Missouri Botanical Garden lists snake plant as winter hardy to USDA zones 10 to 12.
UConn says snake plants cannot tolerate cold temperatures and to avoid anything below 55°F, Mississippi State Extension says snake plants do best between 60 and 85°F, and NC State Extension says the species tolerates cool temperatures around 50°F.
Keep it away from cold drafts and chilly windows in winter, and if you move it outside for the summer, wait until nighttime lows stay above 55°F (Mississippi State Extension).
Watering and Feeding
Water only when the soil is dry. Overwatering is the classic way to lose a snake plant, and the Missouri Botanical Garden says it often causes root rot. The garden also says not to pour water on the center of the rosette.
In winter, cut back: UConn suggests about once a month, and sparingly, while NC State Extension says to water only every one to two months.
Feeding is optional. Iowa State Extension says frequent fertilizing is not necessary, and that an all-purpose fertilizer at half or quarter strength in spring promotes healthy growth.
For a more robust plant, Penn State Extension suggests an all-purpose fertilizer at half strength, monthly in spring and summer, for a more robust plant. The UC Master Gardeners of San Luis Obispo County say fertilizer needs are minimal, and a bit of compost or houseplant food in spring or summer is enough.
Soil and Repotting
Use a cactus potting mix, or a regular mix with added perlite or grit, in a container with drainage holes (Penn State Extension).
Snake plants do not mind being snug in their pots, but Penn State Extension warns that a rootbound plant can break a clay pot, and UConn says snake plants tend to break their pots and suggests plastic ones. Penn State Extension says to provide fresh potting mix every five years or so.
Grooming and Maintenance
There is not much to do. Dust the leaves now and then, and if a leaf is damaged, cut it off at soil level (Penn State Extension). The real work is holding back on the watering can.
Curious about other snake plant shapes? Try the spear plant or the Fernwood snake plant.
How to Propagate Moonshine Sansevieria
Division is the easiest way. Penn State Extension says to look for offspring beside the mother plant, lift the plant from its container, divide it and repot with fresh soil. UConn likes to divide during repotting.
Leaf cuttings also work (Penn State Extension and the Missouri Botanical Garden). UConn says to dip cuttings in rooting hormone and replant them, or root them in water and change the water daily.
Moonshine Snake Plant Care: Pests and Diseases
NC State Extension says snake plant has no significant problems, but to monitor for mealybugs and spider mites, and notes that overwatering may cause root rot.
Toxicity
The ASPCA lists snake plant as toxic to dogs and cats. The toxic principle is saponins, and the signs are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. NC State Extension rates it a low-severity poison and adds that the sap can irritate skin.
Iowa State Extension says sansevierias are mildly toxic to humans and pets and should be kept out of reach of children, dogs and cats. Keep it where pets cannot chew it, and call your vet if you think a pet has eaten some.
More on the question: Is the Mother In Law Plant Poisonous?
Sansevieria Moonshine Uses
Moonshine makes a good potted indoor plant. The Missouri Botanical Garden calls snake plant a good low-maintenance indoor plant, and says indoor plants may spend the summer in shady spots outside. The garden lists snake plant as winter hardy to USDA zones 10 to 12.
Growing It Outdoors in Florida
If you garden in Florida, like I do, check this before you plant one in the ground. UF/IFAS rates Sansevieria trifasciata, the species Moonshine comes from, as a high invasion risk in all three Florida zones and predicts it will be invasive and not recommended.
UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County adds that most cultivars are offspring of that species and may be considered a nuisance plant, and that the underground rhizomes can overgrow a bed without a barrier.
Its advice is to plant snake plants in a pot, planter or enclosed bed. UF/IFAS Extension Orange County goes further and recommends keeping snake plants in a pot indoors.
A Plant With a Working Past
Snake plants have a working history, too. The University of Maine says the species was used for centuries to make cordage for rope, baskets and bowstrings.
The Short Version
Give Moonshine bright, indirect light, a pot that drains, and water only when the soil is dry, and it will mostly look after itself. Keep it out of reach of pets, and if you garden in Florida, keep it in a pot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sansevieria Moonshine the same as Moonlight?
The extension pages that list these cultivars do not say. NC State Extension lists ‘Moonshine’ and Penn State Extension lists ‘Moonglow’, but neither mentions ‘Moonlight’. If your tag says Moonlight, ask the seller which cultivar you are getting. Either way, the care is standard snake plant care: bright, indirect light and water only when the soil is dry.
How often should I water a Moonshine snake plant?
Water when the soil has dried out. 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, and sparingly. The Missouri Botanical Garden says overwatering often causes root rot.
Is a Moonshine snake plant toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata, the species Moonshine comes from) as toxic to dogs and cats, names saponins as the toxic principle, and lists nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as signs. NC State Extension rates it a low-severity poison and adds that the sap can irritate skin. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants.
Does a Moonshine snake plant clean the air?
A 2020 review concluded that potted plants do not improve indoor air quality. It looked at 12 sealed-chamber studies and found you would need 10 to 1,000 plants per square meter of floor space to remove airborne chemicals as fast as the air exchange in a typical building already does. Grow it for its looks.
Can I plant a Moonshine snake plant outdoors?
Only in warm climates. The Missouri Botanical Garden lists snake plant as winter hardy to USDA zones 10 to 12, and UConn says it cannot tolerate cold temperatures. In Florida, UF/IFAS rates Sansevieria trifasciata a high invasion risk and not recommended. UF/IFAS Extension Orange County says to keep snake plants in a pot indoors, and UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County allows a pot, planter or enclosed bed.