Welcome to our guide on the African Spear Plant, scientifically known as Sansevieria cylindrica, a plant that has garnered admiration for its appearance and exceptional resilience.
Sansevieria cylindrica, known as African Spear Plant, is a distinctive succulent known for its upright, cylindrical leaves. These gray-green leaves, radiating a modern architectural flair, can reach impressive heights of 4 to 6 feet tall, with a spread of about 1 to 2 feet wide.
This succulent’s ability to thrive in various conditions with minimal care makes it an attractive choice for indoor gardeners. Whether displayed in a sunny corner or as part of a succulent collection, Sansevieria cylindrica brings a touch of exotic elegance to any setting.
Adding greenery to your home or office is an excellent way to bring life and personality into any room. Plants not only purify the air but also boost your mood and add a welcoming touch. One unique and stunning plant that has become increasingly popular is the hanging African spear plant. With its exotic appearance and sculptural shape this low-maintenance plant can infuse any space with charm and style. In this article, we’ll explore why the hanging African spear plant is such a great choice, how to care for it, and creative ways to display it in your home or workspace.
The hanging African spear plant, scientifically known as Sansevieria cylindrica, is a succulent native to tropical West Africa. It is characterized by its upright, rigid cylindrical leaves that resemble green spears shooting up, hence its common name. These leaves have light gray-green bands and can grow up to 3 feet long, emerging from the base in a rosette pattern.
Slow growing, this drought-tolerant plant can live for many years with proper care. Its resilience to arid conditions makes it extremely adaptable as a houseplant. The African spear plant has also gained popularity for its air purifying abilities, absorbing toxins like xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde. With its exotic, architectural shape and hardy nature, it’s no wonder the African spear plant is becoming a staple in modern interiors.
Why Add a Hanging African Spear Plant to Your Space?
There are many great reasons to incorporate a hanging African spear plant in your home or office:
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Unique appearance – With its upright cylindrical leaves, this plant has a very distinctive look, unlike any other houseplant. It will draw the eye and be a conversation starter.
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Low maintenance – The African spear plant needs very little care to thrive. It only requires occasional watering and can tolerate both bright and low-light conditions.
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Air purifying – With its ability to filter out harmful toxins, this plant naturally improves indoor air quality.
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Easy to hang – With its stiff, straight leaves, the African spear plant retains its shape well and looks great in a hanging basket or planter.
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Adds height – The mature height of 3 feet makes this a great choice to add visual interest and a vertical element.
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Hardy – This succulent adjusts well to various conditions in the home, resisting pests and disease. It’s very difficult to kill!
No matter where you choose to display it, a hanging African spear plant is sure to add a touch of fresh greenery and elevate any space with its sculptural elegance.
How to Care for a Hanging African Spear Plant
Caring for the African spear plant is simple, as it adapts well to indoor environments. Here are some tips to keep it healthy:
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Light – Bright, indirect light is ideal, but the plant tolerates low light. Avoid direct hot sun which can scorch leaves.
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Water – Allow soil to dry out between waterings, then soak thoroughly. Water less in winter, every 2-3 weeks. Mist occasionally.
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Temperature – Average room temps between 60°-80°F are fine. Avoid cold drafts.
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Soil – Use a cactus/succulent mix. Allow soil to dry before re-watering to prevent root rot.
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Fertilizer – Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength during spring and summer months.
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Humidity – Average humidity is fine. Mist leaves occasionally to increase moisture if air is very dry.
With proper care, the African spear plant will grow slowly but can live for many years, requiring only occasional repotting in a slightly larger container.
Creative Ways to Display Your Hanging African Spear Plant
One of the best qualities of the African spear plant is how well it adapts to hanging in baskets or planters. Here are some innovative ways to showcase your plant:
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Macrame hangers – Hang a plant in a boho-chic macrame hanger near a bright window where its long cylindrical leaves can trail down.
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Hanging planters – Use a hanging ceramic or wire planter to display multiple spear plants together for a bushy, tropical effect.
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High shelves – Situate plants on high bookshelves or top kitchen cabinets and allow stems to drape down for visual interest.
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Corner planters – Place a spear plant in a corner floor planter near a desk or reading nook so leaves can reach upward.
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Ceiling hooks – Affix ceiling hooks in a spot with bright ambient light and suspend planters at different heights for a modern display.
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Statement pieces – In a large open foyer or atrium space, hang an oversized basket with African spear plants as an architectural centerpiece.
Whether you opt for a single plant in a bohemian hanger or a lush arrangement, displaying the African spear plant thoughtfully can make it a focal point and highlight its uniquely verdant, vertical look.
With its sculptural shape, exotic appeal, and hardy nature, the hanging African spear plant is a brilliant way to add effortless greenery and style to your interior. Its distinctive cylindrical foliage will make an eye-catching statement in any room. This plant not only purifies the air, but requires very minimal maintenance, making it an excellent choice for beginners or busy plant parents. Get creative with trellises, hanging planters, high displays, and more to show off the spear plant’s gorgeous vertical form. Incorporating an African spear plant into your home or office is sure to bring the benefits of nature – and lots of compliments!
Sansevieria Cylindrica Plant Care Guide
The African Spear Plant is quite adaptable when it comes to lighting conditions. It can survive in low-light environments, which makes it an excellent choice for indoor spaces that don’t receive a lot of natural sunlight. However, for optimal growth and health, a mix of full sunlight and filtered light is ideal.
- Placement Tips: If indoors, position your Sansevieria cylindrica near a window where it can receive a few hours of direct sunlight, followed by periods of indirect or filtered light. Avoid placing it in constant direct sunlight as it can cause the leaves to fade or scorch.
One of the key aspects of Sansevieria Cylindrica care is getting the watering right. This houseplant is drought-tolerant, so it’s essential to avoid overwatering.
- Watering Schedule: During the growing season (spring and summer), water your plant semiregularly, allowing the soil to dry out completely before the next watering. This could mean watering every couple of weeks, depending on the humidity and temperature of your environment. In winter, reduce watering significantly as the plant enters a dormant phase.
- Watering Technique: When watering, do so deeply, ensuring that water reaches the roots, and always empty the saucer underneath to avoid standing water.
Proper soil selection is crucial for the health of your plant.
- Soil Type: A well-draining, sandy succulent potting mix is ideal. The soil should allow water to pass through quickly to prevent root rot.
- DIY Mix: You can create your mix by blending regular potting soil with sand or perlite to increase drainage capabilities.
Sansevieria cylindrica thrives in warm environments and is not tolerant of cold temperatures.
- Ideal Temperature: Maintain a temperature above 50°F (10°C) to keep your house plant healthy. Protect it from cold drafts in winter, especially if placed near windows.
- Humidity Concerns: Unlike tropical plants, humidity is not a significant concern for the plant. However, ensure that the soil isn’t saturated to avoid root issues.
This hardy plant, fertilize your plant minimally.
- Fertilization Schedule: Feed your Cylindrical Snake plant with a diluted succulent fertilizer once a month from the spring to fall. In winter months, cease fertilization as the plant’s growth slows down.
- Overfeeding: Avoid overfeeding as it can lead to a buildup of minerals that can harm the plant.
By following these care tips, your plant should thrive, adding a touch of architectural elegance to your home or office.
Cylindrical Snake Plant Varieties
Sansevieria cylindrica, has several varieties that differ in size, shape, and coloration. Let’s explore some of the most popular ones:
- Appearance: As the name suggests, this variety features straight, upright cylindrical leaves. These leaves are known for their deep green color and can grow several feet in length, making a dramatic statement in any setting.
- Care Tips: Like other Sansevieria cylindrica varieties, it thrives in well-draining soil and requires minimal watering, making it a low-maintenance choice for busy plant owners.
- Unique Feature: The ‘Boncel’ variety, often called Starfish Sansevieria, has shorter, fan-shaped leaves that spread out like a starfish. This compact form is perfect for smaller spaces or as a tabletop plant.
- Growing Conditions: It prefers bright, indirect light but can adapt to lower light conditions. Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
- Leaf Structure: This variety is characterized by its slightly arching stems and softer foliage texture. The leaves are more pliable compared to the standard cylindrical form.
- Ideal Placement: It makes an excellent choice for hanging baskets or as a striking floor plant in corners of rooms where it can receive ample indirect light.
- Distinct Look: As its nickname implies, the ‘Spaghetti’ variety has thinner, more wiry leaves that resemble spaghetti strands. It’s an intriguing variety that adds a touch of whimsy to plant collections.
- Light Requirements: This variety does well in a range of lighting conditions, from low light to bright, indirect sunlight.
Dracaena Angolensis (African Spear Plant/Cylindrical Snake Plant) Care and Propagation! #Dracaena
FAQ
How to look after African spear plant?
How much sun does an African spear need?
Is the African spear plant poisonous?
Are African spear plants a good houseplant?
The African spear plant is an incredible houseplant! Its smooth, cylindrical leaves make it a real attention-grabber. Like its relative the snake plant, Sansevieria cylindrica is an easy-care plant. But it’s much more versatile. Like lucky bamboo, this plant can be braided to give it a unique appearance.
Can African spears grow in sunlight?
The plant thrives well in full sun or bright indirect sunlight. Although it can tolerate a place with low light, it will not achieve maximum growth in the dark. However, very intense light will affect the plant’s wellness, causing the leaves to discolor. Are African Spears Toxic To Cats And Dogs?
What kind of plant is African spear?
The African Spear Plant (Sansevieria cylindrica) is one of the most popular plants that belong to the succulent family of plants. The beaut
How do you care for an African spear succulent?
As with all succulents, the most important factor in the process of caring is soil drainage. The best mix to use for your African Spear should be fast-draining soil and a pot that does not hold water. Sansevieria Cylindrica plants only need a good fertilizer bath during their active growing season.