Mother-In-Law's Tongue 'Laurentii'

Mother-In-Law's Tongue 'Laurentii' Overview

Dracaena trifasciata var. laurentii is a succulent, evergreen perennial variety in the Asparagaceae family. It is sometimes marketed as a cultivar called Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii' and sometimes sold under the older name Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii. It was recently reclassified and is now considered part of the Dracaena genus. This plant is happy wherever. The Snake Plant can handle partial shade and full sun, but it will grow taller the more light it gets. It’s also a succulent in disguise, so only water it little and infrequently. Probably the toughest and most tolerant houseplant you can find, it's virtually indestructible and a great choice for the beginner gardener. Its attractive patterned leaves don't flop or spread so it's great for tight spaces, or where you want something upright. Commonly known by the names Snake Plant because of the shape of its leaves and Mother-in-Laws Tongue due to the sharpness of the leaves. Leaves grow to between 80-100cm in length and 5-7cm wide, they are dark green with contrasting yellow margins and grey-green cross-banding in the middle. It thrives on neglect and is drought tolerant, disliking excessive watering (drench once a week and allow to dry out between watering's). Short spikes of small fragrant tubular greenish-white flowers can appear in summer. In Haitian Vodou and Yoruba mythology, due to its bladelike shape, it is commonly associated with Ogum, the deity of war (usually associated with Saint George), and is used in rituals to remove the evil eye. A yellow-tipped variant is known as espada-de-santa-barbara (sword-of-saint-barbara), and is associated with Iansan/Oya, the female deity of storms (usually associated with the sword-bearing image of Saint Barbara). In the past it was also used as a source of hemp, the plant fibre used to make bowstrings.