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Dracaena trifasciata (Prain) Mabb.

Snake plant

Native records: 8 botanical areas

Central African Republic, Cameroon, Congo, 5 more areas

See all areas

Natural distribution

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NativeIntroducedUncertain

Distribution is shown as WGSRPD Level 3 areas. It does not imply the species occurs throughout an entire area.

Last updated:

Distribution last verified:

See sources

Photograph of Dracaena trifasciata

An evergreen perennial in the family Asparagaceae, genus Dracaena (formerly Sansevieria), with stiff, upright, sword-shaped leaves marked by dark cross-banding. A tough, drought-tolerant houseplant native to tropical West and Central Africa.

Description

A rhizomatous evergreen perennial that sends up stiff, fleshy, sword-shaped leaves from a creeping rootstock. The dark green horizontal banding on the leaves is the source of the common name 'snake plant'. It uses CAM photosynthesis and tolerates drought and low light, making it a forgiving and popular houseplant. Formerly placed in the genus Sansevieria, it was transferred to Dracaena in 2017 on the basis of molecular phylogenetic evidence. Its leaf fibre has historically been used to make bowstrings, giving rise to the name 'bowstring hemp'.

Habitat

Native to seasonally dry tropical regions from southern Nigeria through western Central Africa to Tanzania. It grows in dry, well-drained, often rocky settings and is adapted to withstand seasonal drought.

Distribution areas

  • Anguilla

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Antigua and Barbuda

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Australia

    • Norfolk Is.Introduced
    • QueenslandIntroduced

  • Bangladesh

    • BangladeshIntroduced

  • Barbados

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Bermuda

    • BermudaIntroduced

  • Bhutan

    • East HimalayaIntroduced

  • Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • British Indian Ocean Territory

    • Chagos ArchipelagoIntroduced

  • Cameroon

    • CameroonNative

  • Central African Republic

    • Central African RepublicNative

  • Comoros

    • ComorosIntroduced

  • Congo

    • CongoNative

  • Congo, Democratic Republic of the

    • ZaïreNative

  • Cook Islands

    • Cook Is.Introduced

  • Costa Rica

    • Costa RicaIntroduced

  • Dominica

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Dominican Republic

    • Dominican RepublicIntroduced

  • Ecuador

    • EcuadorIntroduced
    • GalápagosIntroduced

  • Equatorial Guinea

    • Equatorial GuineaNative

  • Fiji

    • FijiIntroduced

  • French Polynesia

    • Society Is.Introduced

  • Gabon

    • GabonNative

  • Grenada

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Guadeloupe

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Guam

    • MarianasIntroduced

  • Guinea

    • GuineaIntroduced

  • Guinea-Bissau

    • Guinea-BissauIntroduced

  • Haiti

    • HaitiIntroduced

  • India

    • Andaman Is.Introduced
    • East HimalayaIntroduced
    • IndiaIntroduced

  • Jamaica

    • JamaicaIntroduced

  • Malaysia

    • MalayaIntroduced

  • Marshall Islands

    • Marshall Is.Introduced

  • Martinique

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Mauritius

    • MauritiusIntroduced

  • Mayotte

    • ComorosIntroduced

  • Mexico

    • Mexico SoutheastIntroduced
    • Mexico SouthwestIntroduced

  • Micronesia, Federated States of

    • Caroline Is.Introduced

  • Montserrat

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Myanmar

    • Andaman Is.Introduced
    • MyanmarIntroduced

  • Nauru

    • NauruIntroduced

  • Nigeria

    • NigeriaNative

  • Niue

    • NiueIntroduced

  • Norfolk Island

    • Norfolk Is.Introduced

  • Northern Mariana Islands

    • MarianasIntroduced

  • Palau

    • Caroline Is.Introduced

  • Papua New Guinea

    • Solomon Is.Introduced

  • Puerto Rico

    • HaitiIntroduced
    • Puerto RicoIntroduced

  • Réunion

    • RéunionIntroduced

  • Rwanda

    • RwandaIntroduced

  • Saint Barthélemy

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

    • AscensionIntroduced

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Lucia

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Saint Martin (French part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Seychelles

    • SeychellesIntroduced

  • Singapore

    • MalayaIntroduced

  • Sint Maarten (Dutch part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Solomon Islands

    • Solomon Is.Introduced

  • Spain

    • Canary Is.Introduced

  • Tanzania, United Republic of

    • TanzaniaNative

  • Trinidad and Tobago

    • Trinidad-TobagoIntroduced

  • Tunisia

    • TunisiaIntroduced

  • United States Minor Outlying Islands

    • Wake I.Introduced

  • United States of America

    • FloridaIntroduced

  • Vanuatu

    • VanuatuIntroduced

  • Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced
    • Venezuelan AntillesIntroduced

  • Virgin Islands (British)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Virgin Islands (U.S.)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

Climate of the native range

The Köppen climate classes found in the areas this plant is recorded as native to. It does not mean an entire area has that climate.

  • Aw Tropical, savannah
  • Am Tropical, monsoon
  • Af Tropical, rainforest
  • BSh Arid, steppe, hot

The same climate occurs in 137 areas worldwide, 93 of which have no record of this plant. See them on the map

A matching climate does not mean the plant can grow there. Range limits are also set by things other than climate — dispersal history, soils, competition. Source: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0 (observed period 1991–2020).

Recorded medicinal uses

The cited source records medicinal use of this plant. It is not an assessment of efficacy or safety.

  • Dracaena trifasciata is recorded as used medicinally.

    Source location: p.44, right column, line 60

    World Checklist of Useful Plant Species · Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity (KNB) · CC BY 4.0 · source version: wcups-2020-62602715

    Open source

Other names

Snake plant、Mother-in-law's tongue、Saint George's sword、Viper's bowstring hemp

Family
Asparagaceae
Genus
Dracaena

Other species in Dracaena

Sources

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Anguilla · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Antigua and Barbuda · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Australia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bangladesh · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Barthélemy · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bermuda · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Barbados · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bhutan · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Central African Republic · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cameroon · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Congo, Democratic Republic of the · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Congo · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cook Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Comoros · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Costa Rica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominican Republic · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Ecuador · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Spain · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Fiji · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Micronesia, Federated States of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Gabon · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guinea · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guadeloupe · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guinea-Bissau · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Equatorial Guinea · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Grenada · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guam · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Haiti · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    India · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    British Indian Ocean Territory · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Jamaica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Kitts and Nevis · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Lucia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Martin (French part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mexico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Marshall Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Myanmar · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Northern Mariana Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Montserrat · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Martinique · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mauritius · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Malaysia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mayotte · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Norfolk Island · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Nigeria · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Niue · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Nauru · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Palau · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Papua New Guinea · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Puerto Rico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    French Polynesia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Réunion · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Rwanda · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Singapore · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Solomon Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Sint Maarten (Dutch part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Seychelles · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Trinidad and Tobago · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Tunisia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Tanzania, United Republic of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    United States Minor Outlying Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    United States of America · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (British) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (U.S.) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Vanuatu · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

Image information