Cylindrical Snake Plant
Snake plant leaves as round, grey-green spears, growing in a fan straight up or braided into a plait. Takes the same near-total neglect as its flat-leaved cousin and looks like modern sculpture doing it.
The cylindrical snake plant is the same idea as the ordinary one, a desert plant that stores water in its leaves and ignores you, but the leaves are round instead of flat: smooth grey-green spears with faint darker bands, each ending in a point, growing in a fan from the soil. Nurseries braid the young leaves together or grow dwarf fan forms that look like starfish, and both are just the same plant arranged differently.
It comes from Angola, which tells you everything about its care. Bright light, dry soil, warm room. It grows slowly, a few inches a year, and lives for decades. The one way to kill it is water.
Light
Anything from a north window to a few hours of direct sun. It grows fastest and stands straightest in bright light, and tolerates a dim corner for months at a stretch, growing barely at all. A south or west window suits it better than it suits almost any other houseplant. Very sudden moves into full sun can scorch; ease it over a week.
Water
Water only when the soil is completely dry, then soak and drain. Every two to three weeks in summer, once a month or less in winter. The spears wrinkle lengthways when the plant is genuinely thirsty, which takes a long time. Root rot from overwatering is the only common way to lose one; the leaves go soft and yellow at the base.
Soil and potting
A cactus or succulent mix, or potting soil cut with half perlite or grit. A heavy pot with drainage, because the spears are top-heavy; terracotta is ideal. Repot every three years or so, only one size up. It likes to be root-bound and will crack a plastic pot before it complains.
Feeding
A half-strength cactus feed every couple of months in spring and summer, or none at all. It does not need it.
Propagation
Division of the rhizome when repotting, or leaf sections: cut a spear into three-inch pieces, let them callus for a few days, and stand them cut-side down in dry gritty mix. Roots take a month or two, new spears longer. Braided plants cannot be divided without unpicking the braid.
In a hot, dry home
A natural. It is built for exactly this climate: dry air, heat, strong light. Give it the sunny window that scorches everything else, water it every three weeks in summer and monthly in winter, and keep it away from any spot where the AC pools cold air on the floor. Nothing in the directory is easier here.
Cylindrical Snake Plant varieties
Same care, different look. These are the named forms you will see for sale.
- Braided
Young spears plaited together while soft; they set in that shape. Same plant, more sculpture.
- Starfish (Boncel)
A compact form whose short, fat spears fan out flat like a starfish. Stays under a foot.
- Bonji
Another dwarf fan form, shorter and rounder than Starfish.
- Twist
Spears that spiral gently as they grow.
Problems and fixes
Spears soft and yellow at the base
Likely cause: Overwatering; root rot
Fix: Unpot, cut away rotten roots and leaves, repot dry, wait a week before watering.
Spears wrinkled lengthways
Likely cause: Thirsty, at last
Fix: Water thoroughly.
Spears leaning or splaying
Likely cause: Low light, or a pot too light for the plant
Fix: Brighter spot; repot into heavier terracotta.
Brown tips
Likely cause: Cold, or physical damage
Fix: Keep it above fifty degrees; trim the tips.
Cylindrical Snake Plant questions
Is the cylindrical snake plant safe for pets?
No. Like all snake plants it contains saponins that cause nausea and vomiting if chewed. It is unpleasant rather than dangerous.
Will the braid keep growing?
The braided spears stop once they harden. New spears grow from the base as separate, unbraided leaves.
How often do I water it?
Every two to three weeks in summer, monthly or less in winter, and only when the soil is fully dry. Less than you think.
Plants with a similar rhythm
Snake Plant
- Light
- Low to direct sun
- Water
- Every 3 weeks
- Pets
- Toxic
Moonshine Snake Plant
- Light
- Low to direct sun
- Water
- Every 2 weeks
- Pets
- Toxic
ZZ Plant
- Light
- Low to bright indirect
- Water
- Every 3 weeks
- Pets
- Toxic
