Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Sansevieria cylindrica, my favorite plant this week (and no, it’s not in the garden)

Since returning home from San Francisco and the Garden Bloggers Fling it’s felt like we’re running a bed and breakfast, one guest after another for the entire month! Not that I’m complaining, as these are all friends and family here to visit and enjoy Portland’s amazing summer weather.

So what does this little tidbit have to do with “my favorite plant?” Well when I was making up the guest bed for the third time I found myself focusing on the Sansevieria cylindrica sitting on the nightstand. It has been ages since I really looked at it, poor thing. I guess it had mentally become furniture after moved it downstairs, out of the way of our Christmas tree about three years ago, and then forgot about it.

Yes three years! Three years in the basement with very little light, practically no water. I mean surely I’ve watered it at some point in those three years? (I did water it right after taking these pictures) Doesn’t it look amazing all things considered? Sure the leaves look a little deflated and it’s rather “splayed” (a sign of not enough light) but it’s still alive…

In better days, when it was in front of a window in the living room, it bloomed. I remember the flower as being very fragrant at night.

So yes, I am blogging about a houseplant, in the summertime when there are plenty of other plants to focus on; I think this one deserves a little praise. There’s a reason sansevieria are in offices and malls all over the world, they’re tough!

The stats:
  • Hails from Angola where it can reach 3-4 ft tall and 2-3 ft wide
  • Hardy in zones 10a-11
  • Prefers cool sun/light shade
  • Needs little water. According to San Marcos Growers: “This plant can go weeks between watering (3 week irrigation intervals are suggested); the one thing that usually kills a Sansevieria is overwatering.” (something I definitely haven't done!)

And yes I really did just put pictures of our cheesy basement "guest corner" on the internet, evidently I have no shame...

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

25 comments:

  1. I had a neglected basement Sansevieria bloom last winter, and it was *super* fragrant! Gets water every few months I think.

    (Your guest "corner" doesn't look so cheesy to me!)

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    1. Glad to know my memory of fragrance wasn't misguided. And thank you for the guest corner comment, proof that a little careful cropping can work wonders.

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  2. I love sansevieria. They are often disparaged amongst the houseplant world but are a personal favourite. They really are so darn tough. Whenever someone comes into the nursery and looks for houseplant advice I send them home with a sansevieria knowing they would have to work hard at killing it.

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    1. "they would have to work hard at killing it"...well said Louis. I've read about more than one person who dislikes them but I agree they are fabulous plants.

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  3. I hardly water my Sansevieria cylindrica...hardly ever...that is once or twice a year...poor thing, but it is alive and not bad looking. I didn´t know their leaves curved that way... mine has its leaves straight.

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    1. The leaves on mine were much straighter when I bought it, but your comment did have me taking a second look to be sure I hadn't mislabeled it. I couldn't find anything better but will keep looking!

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    2. I´ve been searching at the internet and I think the normal shape as new leaves grow is that curved shape.

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  4. Funny you should post about your Sansevieria as I just watered mine for the first time in weeks before I sat down to read your post and noticed that it's pushing up a pup! I've been very tempted by cylindrica! Hope you get a little breather after all of your company! Your guest corner is not cheesy!

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    1. I suppose I should admit I have actually killed a sansevieria in the past. It took me several years, about 10, but I finally had to admit I needed to get rid of it.

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  5. It's downright criminal that I have not re-potted my Sansevieria. Poor plant.

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    1. Our houseplants are abused in a way the garden plants never are!

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  6. Tough plant, I have a rhododendron in a pot, one of the larger growing varieties, it is in full shade and I don't water it hardly at all, maybe once every few months if it's lucky. Buggered if I know how it survives.

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    1. I don't think I've ever heard of a rhody in a container, I love it! Good job on keeping it alive, somehow...

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  7. Loree you are incapable of cheesiness! That little basement vignette looks like it should be in Sunset or Dwell--is that a vintage Bauer pot?

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    1. Ha, thanks Jean! As I mentioned to Alan a little careful cropping did the trick! (notice you don't see the out of season clothing storage just on the other side of that bamboo screen). And yes, it is a Bauer, I also have a tiny yellow one and a medium sized chartreuse. Aren't they fabulous?

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  8. When I first saw this sans. at Calif. Cactus Center some years ago, I posted a photo that Deanne saw, and she was so taken with it that it became the first plant I ever packed and shipped. Dustin made a little hedge of the common sans. around his outdoor dining area, very cool. And how can a guest room possibly be cheesy with a sans. growing in a Bauer pot? Here's my plant of the week: http://agrowingobsession.com/?p=45030

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    1. Well I owe Deanne a thanks then for getting you started down the plant shipping path, I have profited from your willingness several times (although darn it if I could get those nicotiana seeds to grow!). Love the idea of a hedge of the common sansevieria!

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  9. Love mine Loree, I have it in the family room, where it thrives on neglect.

    Here's my fave this week :http://gardenbook-ks.blogspot.com/2013/08/this-weeks-fave-rave.html

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    1. I love that so many people have one, they really are gorgeous plants!

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  10. Tough as old boots these plants!

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  11. I chuckle at the common name for sanseveria: "mother-in-law's tongue", but always have thought of it as an elegant plant. My fave is Acanthus sennii here: http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/3255

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    1. I remember hearing that common name when I was a kid and asking my mom about it because I didn't understand.

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  12. Three years with limited light and water makes a plant a superstar in my book! I recently added a sanseveria to my master bedroom to replace one of the many houseplants my 2 cats love to chew - the cats poked at it a bit, then left it alone. Soon, all my houseplants may be sanseveria.

    My contribution to this week's favorite plants can be found here: http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-favorite-plant-this-week-geranium.html

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    1. Since there are so many different kinds that could be quite the amazing house plant collection!

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