Sansevieria Zeylanica “Devil’s Tongue”

Devil’s Tongue, or Sansevieria zeylanica, is an easy-care houseplant that requires little water, making it a perfect plant for novice plant owners and those who are busy.

Superficially resembling Sansevieria trifasciata (Snake plant, or Mother-in-Law’s tongue), this species is found many thousands of miles away in Sri Lanka and India. The leaves are long and strap-like and are grey-green with horizontal bands of darker green along their length. The largest leaves occasionally show signs of age. These leaves are the oldest on the plant and may be several years old by the time it is ready to be sold, which means that sometimes they have small brown lesions and scars on them, especially near the tips and leaf edges.

Devil’s Tongue is also sometimes called a Snake plant, or even Fan snake plant, which can be confusing (and why using the scientific name is always a good way to be sure to find what you need!)

Sansevierias are now classified as a species of Dracaena – if you examine their underground stems, the resemblance becomes very clear.

All our potted plants come in compostable coir pots.