The Starfish Snake Plant, Dracaena angolensis, is a distinctive houseplant valued for its striking architectural form. Previously classified as Sansevieria cylindrica, it is also known as African Spear or Cylindrical Snake Plant. Hailing from the dry, arid landscapes of Africa, this species thrives on neglect, making it a favorite low-maintenance specimen for indoor spaces.
Defining the Starfish Snake Plant
The plant is called “starfish” because its leaves are arranged in a fan-like rosette pattern. Unlike the flat foliage of other snake plants, this species features stiff, subcylindrical leaves that are plump and taper to a sharp point. These leaves are typically gray-green with subtle horizontal dark green stripes, creating a textured appearance.
The leaves grow outward from a basal rosette, originating from underground rhizomes, which creates its distinct, fan-shaped growth habit. This resilient plant is native to dry regions of Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its origin explains its tolerance for drought and hardy nature.
Essential Care Requirements
The Starfish Snake Plant prefers bright, indirect light, which encourages robust growth and vibrant coloration. While it can tolerate lower light levels, prolonged darkness can slow growth and weaken the plant.
Proper watering is crucial, as this succulent is susceptible to root rot from excessive moisture. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings, typically every two to four weeks depending on the season. Use a well-draining potting mix, such as a specialized cactus or succulent blend, to ensure excess water drains quickly.
Because the plant stores water in its fleshy leaves, it requires minimal supplemental nutrition. Fertilization should be minimal, applied perhaps once every three weeks during the active spring and summer growing season. Use a diluted, general-purpose houseplant fertilizer. Maintaining an average room temperature, typically between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, supports healthy growth.
Understanding the Starfish Bloom
Flowering is a rare event, especially when the plant is grown indoors. The Starfish Snake Plant only blooms once it has reached full maturity and is under environmental stress. This stress, often sustained neglect, signals that survival is threatened, triggering a reproductive response.
The bloom emerges as a tall, upright spike, or raceme, that can reach up to three feet above the foliage. Small, tubular flowers appear along this spike, typically white or pink, arranged in a whorled pattern. These flowers are fragrant, emitting a sweet scent, and usually appear during the summer months.
Triggers for an indoor bloom include the plant being significantly root-bound and experiencing a cool, dry dormancy period. Allowing the plant to completely fill its pot and restricting water during the winter months simulates the dry season in its native habitat. This period of mild hardship and the maturity of the rhizome system compel the plant to produce a flower spike.
Growing Your Collection
Propagating the Starfish Snake Plant allows growers to expand their collection using two methods: division or leaf cuttings.
Division
Division is the fastest and most reliable technique, involving the separation of offsets, or “pups,” that naturally grow from the main plant’s rhizomes. These pups already have a root structure. They can be gently detached with a clean, sharp blade and immediately potted into their own containers with fresh, gritty soil.
Leaf Cuttings
Leaf cutting propagation is a slower but viable method, useful for maximizing the number of new plants from a single parent. Cut a healthy, cylindrical leaf into segments three to five inches long. The cut pieces must be allowed to dry and heal, or “callus,” for several days or weeks before planting to prevent rot. Note the correct orientation, as the bottom end of the segment must be inserted into the soil for a new plant to emerge.