Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Zeylanica Snake Plant
Zeylanica Snake Plant is a snake plant from southern India and Sri Lanka with long, upright, sword-shaped leaves. The dark green leaves carry wavy bands of lighter green and silver, which gives it a wilder look than the common snake plant. It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and about a foot wide and handles dry soil well. Use it in a shaded bed, an entry or a patio pot out of the hot afternoon sun.
Best for: shaded beds and entries, patio pots out of the afternoon sun, and spots with morning sun only.
It does best in part sun, shade or early morning sun only. A shaded entry or a spot that gets only morning sun suits it.
The stiff, upright leaves make a tall, narrow accent in a decorative pot. A wide pot keeps the tall plant from tipping, and a pot is easy to move under cover on frost nights.
It spreads slowly from its base into a clump. Plant about 2 to 3 feet apart for a bed, or closer for a tight group.
It will not take full desert sun, and freezing nights damage the leaves. Soggy soil leads to root rot, so let it dry out between waterings.
- Tight group1 ft apart
- Bed planting2-3 ft apart
Water about every two weeks in summer and about monthly in winter, letting the soil dry between waterings. Never let it sit in soggy soil.
Outdoors in the Valley it needs part sun or shade, or early morning sun only. Hot midsummer sun can scorch and yellow the leaf edges.
It cannot take freezing temperatures. Move potted plants indoors or under cover on frost nights, and cover plants in the ground with frost cloth.
Divide crowded clumps every 3 to 5 years. Replant the divisions in fast-draining soil.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
What is Zeylanica Snake Plant?
It is a snake plant from southern India and Sri Lanka, also called bowstring hemp. Its long, sword-shaped leaves are dark green with wavy lighter green and silver bands.
Is it the same as Devil's Tongue?
Some growers sell this snake plant under the name Devil's Tongue. It is not the Devil's Tongue barrel cactus, which is a different plant.
How is it different from regular Mother-in-Law's Tongue?
The two are close cousins with nearly the same care. The difference is the leaf pattern, and zeylanica has a rougher, wilder look, often with brown leaf edges.
Can it grow outside in Phoenix?
Yes, in part sun or shade. It will not take full desert sun, so give it early morning sun only, and protect it from freezing nights.
How big does it get?
It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and about 1 foot wide. It spreads slowly from the base into a clump over time.
How often should I water it?
Water when the soil dries out, about every two weeks in summer and about monthly in winter. Soak it well, then let it dry, and never let it sit in soggy soil.
Is it frost hardy?
No. It is a tropical plant, and cold nights can damage the leaves. Move pots under cover or inside, and cover plants in the ground when nights drop toward freezing.
Does it bloom?
It is grown for its leaves and blooms only rarely. A mature plant can send up a spike of small, greenish-white, fragrant flowers.
Can I keep it in a pot?
Yes. It does well in a container with a fast-draining mix. Use a wide pot so the tall plant does not tip over, and divide it every few years.
Is it toxic to pets?
Yes. Snake plants are toxic to dogs and cats and can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if chewed. Keep it out of reach of pets.
Zeylanica Snake Plant for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Zeylanica Snake Plant, also sold as bowstring hemp, is a close cousin of the common snake plant from southern India and Sri Lanka. It shares the same easy care, with a different leaf pattern. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, including shade, water, cold, size, spacing and pots.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Can Zeylanica Snake Plant grow outside in Phoenix?
Yes, in part sun or shade. It will not take full desert sun, so morning sun only or a shaded entry works best. Protect it from freezing nights.
Zeylanica vs Mother-in-Law's Tongue
They are close cousins with nearly the same care. Zeylanica has dark green leaves with wavy lighter bands and a rougher, wilder look.
How big does Zeylanica Snake Plant get?
It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and about 1 foot wide. It slowly spreads from the base into a clump.
How often do you water a snake plant outside?
Water about every two weeks in summer and about monthly in winter. Let the soil dry between waterings, since soggy soil causes root rot.
How far apart do you plant snake plants?
Plant them about 2 to 3 feet apart in a bed, or about 1 foot apart for a tight group. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
Growing Zeylanica Snake Plant in a pot
It does well in a container with a fast-draining mix. A wide pot keeps the tall leaves from tipping, and you can move it under cover on frost nights.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.