How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Sansevieria Kirkii

Sansevieria kirkii, also identified as star sansevieria, is a snake plant variety that is a bit harder to find. It’s a fantastic indoor houseplant, but also provides an amazing outdoor gardening experience if you’re in the right climate.

Renowned for its bold architectural form, it features long, lance-shaped leaves marked by wavy edges and a mosaic of green, gray, and white patterns. This hardy plant thrives in low-maintenance environments, making it an excellent indoor and outdoor cultivation choice. Its tolerance to drought, low light, and poor soils has earned it a reputation as an ideal plant for beginners or those with busy lifestyles.

If you’re an enthusiast of this popular species, it’s worth the effort to hunt one down and learn how to care for it.

What is Sansevieria Kirkii?

This snake plant, known commonly as Pangane sansevieria, star sansevieria, or Sansevieria kirkii is a perennial succulent distinguished by its unique and eye-catching features that set it apart from other members of the genus.

Its adaptability to a wide range of light conditions and its drought tolerance further highlight its versatility and resilience. It has relatively slow growth, forming a compact rosette that makes it ideal for both container planting and ground covers in arid landscapes.

It is also now classed in the genus Dracaena (2018) with other snake plants, but many still consider it a Sansevieria.

Native Area

Sansevieria kirkii is native to the East African region, especially Tanzania. It can also be found naturally in Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zaïre, and Zimbabwe. It thrives in dry, rocky habitats, where it has adapted to survive harsh conditions, including intense sunlight and limited water availability. This resilient succulent is commonly found growing in open woodlands, savannas, and scrublands.

It has evolved to store water in its thick, fleshy leaves and withstand periods of drought. Its ability to thrive in these challenging conditions has made it a valuable plant for xeriscaping and low-maintenance gardening.

Characteristics

Its broad, sword-shaped leaves are robust and leathery, with a wavy or scalloped edge that gives the plant a textured, sculptural appearance. The leaves exhibit an intricate pattern of mottled green, silver, and gray hues, adding to its ornamental appeal.

It does flower via a conical inflorescence, and the scented, greenish-white blooms grow in clusters on the tapering edge of the foliage.

Varieties

As far as varieties go, Sansevieria kirkii ‘Silver Blue’ is the prettiest variety with the most style. It has gorgeous, thick silver-blue leaves that have patterns of dark angular streaks. It is acaulescent, with no visible stems above the ground surface.

Sansevieria kirkii ‘Friends’ is another popular variety with a bit more of a bushy appearance, the leaves are very close together. It too has greenish-white blooms.

Planting

To plant Sansevieria kirkii, start by choosing a pot with good drainage, ideally six to eight inches deep, to accommodate its root system. Fill the pot with a well-draining soil mix, such as a blend of cactus soil and sand, ensuring a loose and aerated texture.

Place the plant or its rhizome cuttings about one to two inches deep into the soil, ensuring the roots are well-covered but not overly compacted. Leave two to three inches of space between the plant and the edge of the pot to allow for growth.

If planting outdoors, dig a hole about two inches deep in well-drained soil, spacing multiple plants at least 12-18 inches apart for adequate air circulation. After planting, water sparingly to settle the soil, and position the plant in a location with bright, indirect light or partial shade for optimal growth.

How to Grow

This sansevieria is an easy but slow grower, tolerant of a range of growing conditions. It takes a few years to mature and form offsets – identical daughter snake plants that grow on the body of the original, which you can then use to propagate!

Light

This succulent grows best in moderate or slightly filtered sun. Bright, indirect light will bring out the color in the leaves. Make sure it’s not exposed to full sun as that will damage the leaves and turn them yellow. While it can survive in shade, it’s recommended to provide substantial bright light.

Water

Allow soil to fully dry before watering again, as this plant is highly drought-tolerant. Give it a deep and thorough watering, waiting until you see water dripping out of your container before you stop. Don’t allow standing water, and drain the saucer of any runoff.

Decrease your watering as you move into the low light of fall and winter, as the plant grows slower.

Soil

A well-draining cactus mix helps this plant to thrive. If the soil is excessively soggy, it will lead to root rot. You can also mix your own soil by adding perlite, compost, and sand together in a 1:1:1 ratio.

Temperature

Make sure to place your Sansevieria kirkii in an average temperature environment; it will happily grow in temperatures ranging from 59 to 73°F (15-23°C). Your sturdy succulent can also survive in temperatures as low as 50°F (10°C), but that is not the ideal temperature to expose your plants to for longer periods of time.

Make sure that you do not leave your Sansevieria kirkii in areas with temperatures below 50°F (10°C), as it cannot survive in cold atmospheres. Remember, too much bright light causes the leaves to have singed tips. Low light is better than excess.

Fertilizer

These are are low-maintenance plants that don’t require excessive additional feeding. In fact, excessive feeding will ruin the leaves of the plant! Just make sure to give your Sansevieria kirkii a weak, diluted feed of a general-purpose fertilizer once a month or after every three weeks during summer, as it puts out flowers and needs more energy during that time.

Maintenance

To repot your snake plant, make sure you dry it out when you take it out of its current container. Next, use a wide, medium-sized planter with drainage holes and put some free-draining soil at the bottom of your pot. Locate the new pot, plant your snake plant, and fill the outstanding space with more soil.

Keep the soil a bit loose and water it. A pro tip is to wait until roots have entirely filled up your current pot before repotting it… it likes to be a bit root-bound!

Use a thin knife to prune and spruce up your mature plant to make it look fresh and brand new. Simply cut the longest leaves of the plant – they usually grow on the outer sides – at the soil line. You can use those cut up leaves to propagate via leaf cuttings.

Propagation

A fast way to propagate your snake plant is via division, as opposed to the near impossible task of propagating via seeds produced by the greenish-white flowers.

Simply wait for it to outgrow its current pot, and then when you take it out to repot, keep an eye out for any root or stem offsets. If there are any, just separate them from the parent plant and plant both the offset and the mother Sansevieria kirkii in different pots.

Common Problems

There aren’t many issues to be aware of, but let’s cover a few that can arise when you’re growing this succulent.

Growing Problems

The only problem you’ll run into is overwatering, which causes roots to rot, which will eventually lead to the plant’s death. Ensure that the soil is well-drained and you will not face this common houseplant care issue.

Also, try to keep your Sansevieria kirkii away from direct, bright light as that will discolor its leaves. Make sure you place it in front of a lightly curtained window so that it is exposed to bright indirect sunlight.

Pests

Sansevieria kirkii are virtually pest free plants, thanks to their sturdy, thick leaves and strong base.

Diseases

Besides root rot due to overwatering, there aren’t many diseases to worry about with your silver blue snake plant. If signs of rot appear, reduce your watering schedule. If signs of rot continue to appear after reduced watering, replant in fresh potting media and continue to monitor its condition.

Frequently Asked Questions