How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Sansevieria Parva

Sansevieria parva (now Dracaena parva), also known as Kenya hyacinth, is a unique snake plant relative you should grow at home! Kevin Espiritu will show you all you need to know to grow this interesting succulent as a houseplant.

A close-up shot of a developing sansevieria parva alongside other houseplants

Contents

If you’re a succulent lover, Sansevieria parva is a rare snake plant relative that you should add to your indoor houseplant collection or outdoor garden. It will thrive in both situations.

The dark green cross bands of the leaves of Sansevieria parva look great among other succulents, or as a statement piece all on their own. Their long soft pointed tip arches gently in their planter. The plant blooms like a hyacinth – relatively fine-textured small pale pink flowers emerge in its native range!

It’s potentially one of the hardiest of the Sansevieria species out there. So run out to the nursery and pick one up and let’s learn how to care for this gorgeous succulent species!

Plant Overview

A close-up shot of a developing succulent houseplant placed on a plastic pot in a well lit area
Plant Type Succulent houseplant
Family Asparagaceae
Genus Dracaena
Species Sansevieria parva now Dracaena parva
Native Area Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda
Exposure Full sun, bright indirect light indoors
Height 12-20”
Watering Requirements Low
Pests & Diseases Root rot
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Well-draining
Hardiness Zone 10-12

What is Sansevieria Parva?

Commonly known as Kenya hyacinth, it’s a popular species of succulent plants for containers or outdoor landscaping. But be aware – this plant is commonly confused with Sansevieria dooneri. Even your local nursery will confuse the two!

The plant was initially described by botanist Nicholas Edward brown, who observed the relatively fine-textured Sansevieria species with its reflexing medium-green thick leaves and orange rhizomes, underground stolons. These characteristics make it look a lot like Sansevieria dooneri.

In 2018, this species was moved to the genus Dracaena, now known as Dracaena parva. However, its old name will remain in the nurseries for a while.

Native Area

A shot of a succulent called Kenya hyacinth alongside other foliage in a well lit area outdoors
The plant is native to East Africa, namely Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

Belonging to the Asparagaceae family, this is a hardy, perennial succulent native to East Africa, in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. It is also naturalized in South Asia. It thrives in semi-arid and tropical climates and is well-adapted to rocky terrains and grasslands, often found in areas with well-draining soils and intermittent rainfall. Its resilience to drought and ability to flourish in diverse environmental conditions make it a significant species within its native ecosystem.

Beyond its natural habitat, Sansevieria parva has become a popular ornamental plant worldwide due to its striking appearance and low maintenance needs.

Characteristics

A close-up shot of leaves of a succulent houseplant that is placed on a terracotta pot in a well lit area indoors
The succulent has leaves that a long and around 1 inch wide.

Sansevieria parva has thick leaves that are eight to sixteen inches long and half to one inch wide, with dark green cross-bands growing out of small heavy rosettes. The leaves send out long pendant runners called stolons that end in tiny plantlets, making it a great hanging basket houseplant.

Small, pale pink to white flowers appear in the form of spikes and have a fragrant hyacinth scent at night. These flowers are delicate and relatively fine-textured. They have a striking resemblance to a hyacinth flower, hence its common name.

Planting

A shot of a houseplant placed on a terracotta pot in an area indoors
Select a location that mimics its natural habitat.

Start planting by selecting a well-draining potting mix to prevent water retention that can cause root rot. If planting outdoors, choose a location with sandy or gritty soil that mimics its natural habitat. Sansevieria parva prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate low light conditions, making it versatile for indoor or outdoor settings.

To plant, gently remove the plant from its container and place it in a pot or garden hole slightly larger than the root ball. Ensure the crown of the plant sits just above the soil line, then backfill and lightly press down the soil around it. Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Over time, the plant may produce offsets or “pups”, which can be separated and replanted to propagate new plants.

How to Grow

As a succulent, this plant is hardy and requires minimum attention in a pot. However, there are a few things you need to know to grow this hardy perennial successfully.

Light

A shot of a developing houseplant near a window, basking in bright sunlight.
These succulents prefer bright indirect sunlight.

They’re hardy and can survive in most lighting conditions, but prefer moderately bright, indirect light. If growing indoors, an ideal location is right next to a north-facing window or a bright, sunny window with a sheer curtain.

They can grow in shade, but bright light helps bring out colors in the leaves, so avoid too much shade. If it’s too intense, it will cause the half to one inch wide leaves with their dark green cross bands to become weak and elongated and the edges to turn yellow.

They grow best at temperatures of 70 to 90°F (21-32°C). Temperatures lower than 50°F (10°C) will cause the plants to suffer and die back.

Water

A close-up of a hand gripping a hose, spraying water onto the base of small seedlings. The young plants, still small and tender, are supported by freshly watered soil. The green foliage surrounding the seedlings reflects the care in nurturing them.
Avoid watering too frequently because it could lead to root problems.

In general, Sansevierias don’t require a lot of water. Frequent watering will cause root rot and eventually kill the plants. They also grow best in moderate to low humidity conditions. Water when the soil is fully dry. Let it drain through drainage holes, and discard the excess in the saucer. During winter, decrease your watering.

When you do water Sansevieria parva, add enough water so it drips through the drainage hole of your planter. Then catch the water with a saucer and discard it so your plant is not sitting in stagnant water, which can promote conditions for diseases. Winter rainfall and cooler will stress the plant, so always water with room temperature water.

Soil

A pile of dark brown soil mixed with small white perlite granules fills the frame, with a wooden garden trowel laying partially buried in the soil, suggesting planting or repotting.
Choose a soil mix that drains well.

Sansevieria parva requires a well-drained succulent mix with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of about 5-7.5. If you don’t have succulent or cactus soil handy, a good potting soil with perlite added will do the trick. Remember to only use light and loamy soils, and avoid those that retain moisture too easily.

In eastern Africa, the plant grows in very fine soil that drains significantly. Try to mimic these conditions when growing it.

Fertilizing

A woman holding a white bottle pouring out its content into a small plastic cup with a beak, with a plant's leaves nearby
Diluting the liquid fertilizer prevents over-fertilization, which can kill the plant.

Like most snake plants and other succulents, it doesn’t need much fertilizer. Over-fertilization will cause the leaves to die. You can feed the plant with a succulent fertilizer once every three weeks during the summer when it starts to flower. Dilute the fertilizer to half its strength as labeled on the container.

Do not fertilize in winter or fall, as the plant will be dormant in those growing seasons. In its native range of eastern Africa and parts of Asia, plants generally don’t need a lot of moisture and nutrients in dormancy.

Maintenance

A Sansevieria parva in a pot placed indoors, appearing to have long and smooth green leaves while a person holds pruners
Prune them only when necessary.

The tall foliage can cause your pot to be top-heavy. The process is similar to repotting a snake plant, where you should use a wide but shallow pot. Repot once every two to three years to prevent it from getting too rootbound.

Done mainly for cosmetic purposes. You can prune any dead leaves or overgrown stems to make the plant bushier and enhance its aesthetic appeal. Any healthy leaf cuttings can be propagated.

Propagation

A person using bare hand to hold leaves of a snake plant, growing leaves after propagating it meant to be planted
Similar to other snake plants, propagating this plant is ideally done using leaf cuttings.

Snake plant propagation can be done using various methods, but trying to glean seed from the relatively fine-textured flower is not one of them. Try leaf cuttings for Sansevieria parva, as the half to one-inch-wide leaves will readily root if given good soil, warmth, and bright, filtered light.

Watering and fertilizing lightly is also important when propagating. Make sure the soil is dry between individual waterings. When the leaves have a V shape and erect stature, they are well rooted. You can move the young plants to a larger pot.

Common Problems

While there aren’t a ton of problems associated with the Sansevieria parva plant which is native to eastern Africa, here are a few things to look out for.

Growing Problems

A shot of a growing succulent alongside other houseplants, all placed in terracotta pots in a well lit area indoors.
Growth issues stem cooler temperatures.

Keep at temperatures above 50°F (10°C) to avoid cold damage. The water used for irrigating the plants should also not be too cold. Cold-stressed leaves develop whitish, water-soaked spots and then fall off. You want to look for slightly reflexing medium green leaves.

Pests

Three white mealybugs appearing bright while crawling on a deep green plant having a waxy and smooth surface
The houseplant is plagued by a few insect pests, which can be treated with neem oil.

Sansevieria parva is most likely to be attacked by vine weevils, grubs, mealy bugs and spider mites but you can control these attacks with good pest management techniques. Use beneficial nematodes for weevils and grubs, and neem oil or insecticidal soap for mealybugs and spider mites.

Diseases

A green, stemmed plant with elongated leaves is partially uprooted, revealing dark, decayed roots surrounded by clumps of black soil, next to an overturned white planter, all displayed on a light surface with scattered dirt.
The succulent is susceptible to root rot due when overwatered.

They mostly suffer from fungal infections as a result of root rot. These can be prevented by making sure not to overwater. If you notice rotting leaves or a soft and mushy leaf base, remove the damaged leaves and stop watering. If this doesn’t fix the issue, replant your succelents in new fresh soil in a pot of a similar size. Monitor it and water it sparsely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sansevieria parva a flowering plant?

Yes, it’s a flowering plant. The usual blooming period is from late winter to late spring.

Does Sansevieria parva like to be crowded?

Like other snake plants, Sansevieria parva does appreciate a little crowding from time to time. However, you can divide if it is crowded in its pot.

Are Sansevieria parva hard to take care of?

Yes, like other plants of this species, Sansevieria parva is easy to care for. It will live happily in hanging baskets and small planters. As long as you don’t overwater, you’ll be okay.

How often should a Sansevieria parva be watered?

Sansevieria parva needs water when its soil is fully dry.

Should I put rocks under my snake plant?

Sansevieria parva may appreciate some rocks incorporated into the soil (rather than underneath the plant). This helps with drainage.

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