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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Gynelle Leon

Houseplant of the week: African spear plant

African spear plant Sansevieria cylindrica in a white and brown pot
Photograph: Prick Ldn

Why will I love it?
This plant, also know as the cylindrical snake plant (see below for its Latin names) has a reputation for longevity and indestructibility. It’s the closest the real thing gets to a plastic plant, as it can go through weeks of neglect without its looks being affected. It can also survive the harshest sunlight or the shadiest area of your home, which makes it a houseplant for anywhere.

Light or shade?
Anything from shade to direct light.

Where should I put it?
On a sunny windowsill or a coffee table, but see above.

How do I keep it alive?
It’s a hardy succulent that hails from the tropics of Angola. To best emulate its homeland indoors, keep these plants warm, pot them in free-draining soil and allow them to dry out between waterings. In summer, water weekly and feed with fertiliser; in winter, reduce watering to every four-to-six weeks.

Did you know …
This plant has recently been reclassified as a Dracaena angolensis after being known as Sansevieria cylindrica for many years. The genus, Dracaena, is derived from the ancient Greek word Drakaina, meaning “female dragon”, and Angolensis after Angola, its native home.

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