The starfish sansevieria looks like a snake plant that decided to fan out. NC State Extension describes it as having thick, shorter leaves that spread from the base like a fan, which is where the “starfish” nickname comes from.
That nickname belongs to ‘Boncel,’ a cultivar of Dracaena angolensis, the species long sold as Sansevieria cylindrica. NC State lists both names, and UF/IFAS Extension in Sarasota County notes that sansevieria is now included in the genus Dracaena, so the tag on your pot may say either one.
Some unrelated succulents also get called starfish plants, so check the botanical name before you buy.
Starfish Sansevieria Quick Care Tips
- Botanical Name: Dracaena angolensis ‘Boncel’ (formerly sold as Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Boncel’)
- Common Names: Starfish sansevieria, starfish snake plant, Boncel snake plant
- Family & Origin: Asparagaceae family; the species is native to Africa, and its name means “of Angola”
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Water: Let the soil dry out completely; about every 2 weeks in summer and monthly in winter
- Temperature: 70 to 90°F is ideal and average home temperatures are fine; bring it indoors when it falls below 55°F
- Soil: Well-drained potting mix, ideally one made for cacti and succulents
- Fertilizer: Not needed often; all-purpose fertilizer at half or quarter strength in spring
- Size: Thick, shorter leaves than the species, whose leaves NC State lists at up to 7 feet
- Flowers: The species has fragrant white flowers tinged pink on an upright raceme in summer
- Pests & Problems: Thrips, fern scale and longtailed mealybugs; root rot from overwatering
- Propagation: Division or leaf section cuttings
- Pets: Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
Starfish Sansevieria Care
Overwatering is the fastest way to lose this plant. Get the water right and you have handled the biggest risk.
Size & Growth
The Boncel’s thick leaves spread from the base like a fan, the trait behind the starfish nickname. They are shorter than the species’ leaves, which NC State lists at up to 7 feet.
Like other sansevierias, it spreads by rhizomes, the underground stems that send up new shoots called pups, according to UF/IFAS Extension in Sarasota County.
Flowering and Fragrance
NC State describes the species’ flowers as 1-inch, white, tubular and tinged pink, growing up an upright raceme in summer, and calls them fragrant.
Light & Temperature
Iowa State University Extension says sansevieria prefers bright, indirect light, which it defines as light bright enough to cast a shadow but not directly in the sun’s rays. For this species outdoors, NC State advises only morning sun to avoid sunburn.
You may hear that snake plants take low light. NC State says so for the common snake plant, Dracaena trifasciata, which is a different species from the starfish, so bright indirect light is the safer bet here.
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. NC State says to bring the plant indoors when the temperature falls below 55°F.
Watering and Feeding
Iowa State puts it bluntly: the quickest way to kill a sansevieria is to overwater it. Water only after the soil has completely dried out. Plants can go weeks, sometimes months, without water, but if they stay wet, root rot develops.
For a rough schedule, NC State suggests watering this species about every 2 weeks in summer and monthly in winter. Use that as a guide and let the dry soil make the call. Let the water drain out of the holes in the bottom of the pot, then empty the saucer so the roots are not sitting in water.
Frequent fertilizing isn’t necessary, says Iowa State. An all-purpose fertilizer at half or quarter strength in spring promotes healthy growth.
Soil & Repotting
Use a well-drained potting mix. NC State suggests one made for cacti and succulents. Iowa State says sansevieria doesn’t mind being a bit crowded in its container, so there is no rush to repot.
When roots really do fill the pot, Iowa State says division helps manage excessively pot-bound plants. If you repot instead, choose a pot only an inch or two wider, with drainage holes.
Grooming and Maintenance
Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to keep dust off. Clip any dead leaves at the base where they join the central rosette. Rotate the pot now and then so the plant grows evenly toward the light.
How To Propagate Starfish Sansevieria
Iowa State says sansevieria is easily propagated by leaf section cuttings and division. NC State adds that this species is often sold as rooted leaf cuttings, so the plant you bring home may have started that way.
Division: When pups push up from the soil beside the plant, cut one away from the mother plant and pot it in its own container.
Leaf section cuttings: Iowa State’s method is written for the common snake plant. 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 for rooting. Enclose the pot in a plastic bag or dome, propped up on chopsticks or straws so the plastic stays off the cutting. New shoots or plantlets should appear in about two months, so be patient.
Starfish Snake Plant Pests and Problems
NC State lists banded greenhouse thrips, fern scale insects and longtailed mealybugs as pests of this species. For snake plants in general, NC State says to monitor for mealybugs and spider mites.
Root rot is the bigger risk. Iowa State says it develops if plants stay wet, and NC State says overwatering may cause it in the common snake plant. If you suspect it, let the pot dry out. If the roots are slimy and black, cut them away and repot into fresh, dry mix.
Is Starfish Sansevieria Safe for Pets?
No. NC State lists Dracaena angolensis as toxic if ingested by cats and dogs, with low severity poison characteristics. The signs it lists include vomiting, stomach upset, abdominal pain, drooling, weakness and dilated pupils.
The ASPCA lists the snake plant as toxic to dogs and cats, names saponins as the toxic principle and gives nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as signs.
Keep the pot out of reach of a chewer, and call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control if your pet eats some.
Does It Clean the Air?
Snake plants often get called air purifiers. Iowa State explains that the NASA study kept 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 that it would take 10 to 1,000 plants per square meter of floor space to match the air exchange that typical buildings already get. Grow the starfish sansevieria because it looks great and is easy, not to clean the air.
Final Thoughts
The starfish sansevieria rewards a light hand. Give it bright, indirect light, a well-drained pot and water only once the soil has fully dried out, and keep it away from pets that chew.
More On Growing Succulent Snake Plants
- Propagating Snake Plant Sansevieria
- Sansevieria Fernwood Snake Plant
- What Is The Best Potting Soil For Sansevieria?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a starfish sansevieria?
A starfish sansevieria is the ‘Boncel’ cultivar of Dracaena angolensis, a species long sold as Sansevieria cylindrica. NC State Extension says its thick, shorter leaves spread from the base like a fan, which earned the starfish nickname. UF/IFAS Extension in Sarasota County notes sansevieria is now included in the genus Dracaena, so a plant tag may say either name.
How often should I water a starfish sansevieria?
Only after the soil has dried out completely. NC State suggests about every 2 weeks in summer and monthly in winter for this species, while Iowa State says plants can go weeks, sometimes months, without water and that overwatering is the quickest way to kill one. Check the soil first.
How much light does a starfish sansevieria need?
Bright, indirect light. Iowa State describes that as light bright enough to cast a shadow but not directly in the sun’s rays, and it advises avoiding cold drafts, especially in winter. NC State advises only morning sun for this species outdoors to avoid sunburn.
Is a starfish sansevieria poisonous to cats and dogs?
Yes, it is toxic if eaten. NC State lists Dracaena angolensis as toxic if ingested by cats and dogs, with low severity poison characteristics, and the ASPCA lists the snake plant as toxic to both, naming saponins as the toxic principle and nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as signs. Keep the pot out of reach of pets that chew.
Can I grow a new starfish sansevieria from a cutting?
Yes. Iowa State says sansevieria is easily propagated by leaf section cuttings and division. Its cutting method, written for the common snake plant, uses 3- to 4-inch leaf sections set one to two inches deep in moistened medium under a plastic bag or dome, with new shoots expected in about two months. Division means cutting a pup away from the mother plant.