Rare snake plants have become the best choice for new plant owners in recent times. These showy succulents are taller in size with a stiff and erect stance. They are native to more tropical regions like Madagascar and Western Africa.
Snake plants thrive on low light, which makes caring for them easy. This guide demonstrates the top 10 rare plants you need in your life!
Contents
Types of Rare Snake Plants
1. Siam Silver Snake Plant
The Siam Silver plant has big, callous leaves that stand erect. It is taller than other snake plant types and has a beautiful silver sheen, much like the name suggests. As this plant ages, its leaves begin to drape elegantly. Each leaf has a distinct pattern of streaks consisting of silver and green hues.
The Siam Silver plant is also relatively used to difficult conditions for growth. Snake plants thrive in low light, making them easier to care for. So, if you are new to plants, this might be the one for you!
Sansevieria Metallica is a mellow plant with the unique ability to perform photosynthesis at night. It allows them to produce maximum levels of oxygen throughout the night.
2. Moonshine Snake Plant
Do you enjoy a more muted colorway in your plants? If you screamed yes, Sansevieria Moonshine makes a perfect fit in your home. The Moonshine snake plant, or Sansevieria Trifasciata, is another unique variety.
It tends to have stiff, tall leaves that point up with sharp edges. Its leaves are a uniform green with slight silver hues that complement any space. Another cheeky name for the Moonshine is ‘mother-in-law’s tongue’.
The Moonshine snake plant has unique dark margins and mottling details. Much like the Siam Silver, Moonshine plants produce oxygen throughout the night. They purify the air and rid it of toxic pollutants. Many notice a significant change in their sleep thanks to this.
The Moonshine plant is another low-maintenance plant that requires easy care. Beginners are welcome to try it out, even those with compact spaces. On average, Moonshine plants will grow up to two feet tall and four feet wide. They make for the ideal indoor plant and are a winning choice amongst plant enthusiasts.
3. Sayuri Snake Plant
Sansevieria Sayuri is another great house plant for those looking for extra low-maintenance snake plants. Sayuri can go without water for quite some time and thrive in low lights. If your home has lower levels of natural light, the Sayuri plant is your best bet for an indoor snake plant.
Not only can this plant thrive in rough conditions, but similar to the Siam Silver, it has beautiful green-grey hues that complement any space.
With excess sunlight, the Sayuri can develop sections of browning leaves. To avoid this, shifting your Sayuri to a more low-light environment can help drastically.
Sayuri plants can grow up to three feet tall and four feet wide. Its forgiving nature makes it the ideal beginner succulent. With just little plant care, the Sayuri makes an excellent addition to most homes.
4. Golden Hahnii
The Golden Hahnii is another unique member of the Sansevieria varieties. Its mesmerizing color palette and air purifying abilities rank it as a favorite amongst plant lovers.
The Golden Hahnii is also known as a Dwarf fin snake plant because it grows to a maximum height of 6 to 8 inches. Their size is what makes it the perfect succulent for smaller apartments. It has the most beautiful yellowish streaks that follow the leaves all across.
The yellow adds a beautiful array of colors to your plants and can upscale any space. The Golden Hahnii does prefer direct sunlight or at least bright light for ideal growing conditions. The more light it has access to, the more beautiful it will appear to grow.
Care guides instruct that Golden Hahnii can tolerate low light but at the price of color and size. It enjoys moderate humidity levels but can survive in average household humidity levels. One thing to keep in mind with this plant is to avoid placing it near vents to give it ample air moisture.
5. Laurentii
Do you have high ceilings, medium indirect light, and need a plant that is low maintenance? Well, the Laurentii is an excellent option. It has crisp golden margins, a classic snake pattern, and slender leaves. Many know it is one of the best indoor plants.
The leaves almost resemble the outside of a watermelon. The Laurentii is known for its unique growth process and easy-to-propagate characteristics.
The Sansevieria Laurentii is also known for its resilient abilities against decay. Its resilient nature allows it to withstand rough conditions. So, it is safe to say that a Laurentii is practically indestructible. Correspondent to its cousins, the Laurentii does a great job of producing clean air.
Toxins known as benzene and formaldehyde are the first to go during this purification. The Laurentii can grow up to one meter tall in ideal growing conditions. With luscious yellow-green leaves that stand erect, you can easily decorate any space with this plant.
The Laurentii gives you something refreshing to look at with its naturally dispersed patterns and streaks. The vibrancy of its color palette also seems to play a part in this.
6. Superba
Superba is a similar-looking succulent to Laurantii. The main difference between the two is the width. Superbas are known for being wider than most varieties. The yellow streaks on the edges of each leaf almost resemble paint brush strokes slowly running out of ink.
Like its batchmates, the Superba provides a good level of air purification. You can place the plant in your bedroom for a good rest at night with calming and relaxing abilities.
Superbas are native to tropical West Africa. It is important to note that while these plants reign superior in looks, they can be slightly toxic when ingested. Keep a safe distance between the plant and children/pets.
You can usually get away with growing the Superba perfectly, but as with any other plant, browning of the leaves is common. What makes Laurentii one of the best snake plants is the aesthetics it brings. Many plant owners enjoy placing their Laurentii on their study desks and office spaces.
7. Gold flame
The Gold Flame is a rare variety of Sansevieria Trifasciata. It has unique textures and colors. The leaves on the Gold Flame are much sturdier than most other types, and they tend to hold well over time. You can definitely feel the texture change in each leaf, making it a unique addition to your plant collection.
The Gold Flame has probably the most yellow accents, especially in the smaller sizes. The bigger the Gold Flame gets, the more green color it begins to develop and disperse around the plant.
The Gold Flame prefers more shaded access to light and works as both; an indoor and outdoor plant. A common mistake most plant owners make with the Gold Flame is overwatering it.
It is also not toxic and can be near kids/pets without too much alarm. Preferred climates to grow Gold Flame range from warm to hot. These are known for their beautiful black-gold colorway, which mesmerizes the eye with each glimpse.
Gold Flame can easily be propagated through leaf cuttings and offsets.
8. Birds Nest
Are you in search of something more stout yet broad? Have a look at Birds Nest. This plant is known as a dwarf snake succulent and obtains a maximum height of 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters).
The size of this plant allows you to decorate a small, more confined space without worrying about crowdedness. The Birds Nest is an excellent addition to a collection of different snake succulent varieties or even on its own.
What makes the Birds Nest special is the almost-spiky ends obtained at full age. Despite the pointy end, they are not sharp. But, since they can be toxic when consumed, it is best to keep them away from children or pets.
Bird’s Nest plants do exceptionally well under moderate to bright lighting conditions and will flourish in average household humidity levels. If you have concerns about browning or scarring, a light misting every now and then can help you.
The Birds Nest is robust and sturdy, which makes for the perfect plant when you do not have enough space for taller varieties. An important thing to note with Birds Nest is that it can survive in lower temperatures. So, for anyone who lives in cooler climates and wants a rare plant, this one is the right pick for you.
9. Black Dragon
Another rare variety of snake succulents is the Black Dragon. It is native to Africa and is seen as one of the rarest in its variety. Black Dragons are almost indestructible and can survive under harsh conditions. So, beginners are definitely welcome to give this plant a go.
Much like most snake plant care, the Black Dragon is sensitive to over-watering and can develop root rot. It is best to water the plant without overflooding its soil. You can grow this plant in average household humidity levels, but it will achieve optimal in slightly more humid temperatures.
Ideal locations for the Black Dragon are bedrooms, offices, and living rooms because of their air purifying abilities. They will remove most, if not all, toxins leaving you with fresher air to breathe.
If you do end up buying one snake plant from this list, the Black Dragon is sure to impress your friends and family.
10. Samurai Dwarf
The first thing you will notice with a Samurai Dwarf is how different it looks from the rest of its family as it is one of the rarest snake plants. Its leaves are much thicker and sturdy.
The leaves also tend to bend inwards. Most enthusiasts will urge you to water the Samurai Dwarf even less than other varieties. It is because of how dense and thick the leaves are. The density makes it easier for them to retain water for much longer.
The Samurai Dwarf growth habit is almost a stacking instead of protruding style. But, since it is a dwarf variety, you should not expect too much height. Samurai Dwarfs make ideal additions to smaller, more concise homes because of how little space they need to grow.
The Samurai Dwarf will develop best in bright, indirect lighting. Although it may be able to suffice with low light too, but not for maximum results. Direct sunlight may lead to damage in the form of leaf discoloration and browning. This plant also prefers warmer climates, so it is best to place it indoors during the winter, away from cold drafts.
11. Boncel
A unique quality about Boncel is their cylindrical leaves which have gray-green banding similar to the Laurentii. The leaves spurt in a mohawk shape and can grow up to multiple feet long under ideal growth conditions. So, if you have enough space, consider growing this blooming beauty.
The Boncel or Sansevieria Cylindrica is loved for its extremely unique shape and is commonly placed in living rooms, home entrances, and offices.
You must have seen one of these at your doctor’s office as they are a popular favorite in office-style settings.
Like the Samurai Dwarf, the Boncel plant prefers temperatures over fifty degrees and may suffer in anything lower than that. If you live in colder areas, keep your Boncel indoors and away from open windows and doors. It can adapt to direct sunlight but will do so exponentially in indirect light.
Conclusion
Finding rare snake plant varieties is always a goal when you first start out. After finding the variety above, which plant would you grow?
The Boncel, Samurai Dwarf, Moonshine, and Gold Flame are at the top of our list. Whichever plant you decide suits you best, make sure to learn each of the unique characteristics mentioned above.
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