The top 5 snake plants that most people start with are Laurentii, Moonshine, Bantel's Sensation, Cylindrica, and Hahnii. These five cover the full range of looks in this plant group. You can find all of them at most plant shops or online.
These five became the base of my own collection back in 2020 inside one small apartment. Over the next 3 years, my plant family grew to 12 snake plants total. The first five taught me what I needed to know to branch out with more rare cultivars.
Each of these popular snake plant varieties brings a different look to your home. You get tall striped leaves with Laurentii. You get a smooth silvery glow with Moonshine. You get a tight compact rosette with Hahnii. The five span the full design range.
Laurentii is the classic with bright yellow edges on dark green leaves. It grows 24-36 inches tall (60-90 cm) in a few years. Most folks know this one as the snake plant they saw at their grandmother's house. It still sells more units than any other snake plant in the trade.
Moonshine has a soft silvery green color with no stripes at all. The wide flat leaves catch light in a unique way. Bantel's Sensation goes the other direction with slim upright leaves and bold white stripes. Both are common Sansevieria types that work in modern decor.
Cylindrica breaks the mold with round spear-shaped leaves instead of flat ones. The leaves can shoot up 3-7 feet (91-213 cm) when grown well. People often braid the leaves while young for a fun twist effect. I tried this once and the braid held shape for years.
Laurentii The Classic
- Height: Grows 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) tall with leaves that fan out slightly from the base of the pot.
- Look: Dark green centers with bold yellow edges make this the most recognized variety in stores worldwide.
- Care: Tough enough for new growers, handles missed watering and low light without losing leaves or color.
Moonshine The Modern Pick
- Height: Reaches 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) with wide flat leaves that have a silvery green tone you cannot miss.
- Look: Smooth pale color without stripes gives a clean modern feel that pairs well with white planters.
- Care: Needs brighter light than other types to keep the silver color from fading back to plain green.
Bantel's Sensation
- Height: Climbs to 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) with very slim upright leaves that stand straight without falling.
- Look: Vertical white stripes on dark green leaves make this a stunner that fits in any modern home decor.
- Care: Slow grower with the same easy care as Laurentii but costs two to three times more at most shops.
Hahnii rounds out the list as the smallest of the bunch at just 6 inches (15 cm) tall. The leaves form a tight rosette like a small bowl shape. This one fits on a desk or shelf where bigger plants would crowd the space. Several Dracaena trifasciata cultivars trace back to this dwarf form.
My best tip for new collectors is to buy these five over 6 months rather than all at once. Each variety has small care quirks you should learn one at a time. Rushing to fill a shelf often ends with one plant getting too much or too little water by mistake.
Start with Laurentii in the first month so you can get a feel for the basics. Add Moonshine next to learn how light affects color. Then bring in Bantel's, Cylindrica, and Hahnii in the months after. You will have a solid base to grow from.
Once you can keep all five healthy for a year, you can move on to rare types without much worry. The lessons from these basic five apply to almost every other snake plant on the market. Your money and time will go further with this slow approach.
Read the full article: 15 Best Snake Plant Varieties
