You’ve seen them in every dentist's office, hipster cafe, and minimalist apartment from Brooklyn to Berlin. They're tall. They're stiff. They're basically impossible to kill unless you drown them in a fit of over-enthusiastic watering. Officially, the plant is Dracaena trifasciata (though many of us still stubbornly call it Sansevieria trifasciata), but most people know it by a much more colorful moniker.
Why is snake plant called mother in law's tongue?
It’s a bit of a mean joke, honestly. The name comes from the long, sharp, pointed shape of the leaves. The folklore suggests that, much like the stereotypical "sharp" tongue of a mother-in-law, the plant's leaves are pointed, tough, and—if you aren't careful—a little bit prickly. It’s one of those bits of botanical shade that has stuck around for generations, transcending cultures and languages.
But there is so much more to this plant than a 1950s-era sitcom trope.
The Sharp Origins of a Global Nickname
Language is a funny thing. We name things based on what we see, and the Dracaena trifasciata is nothing if not visually striking. The leaves grow vertically, ending in a hard, fibrous point. In many parts of the world, this sharpness reminded people of a wagging tongue.
The "Mother-in-Law's Tongue" name isn't just an English phenomenon. In French, it’s often called langue de belle-mère. In Spanish, it’s lengua de suegra. It seems that across various continents, the "sharp-tongued mother-in-law" was a universal enough archetype that people decided to name a houseplant after it.
Is it fair? Probably not. But it’s catchy.
The plant actually originated in tropical West Africa, from Nigeria to the Congo. In its native habitat, it isn't a punchline. It’s a survivor. It handles drought like a champ. It survives in rocky soil where other plants would just give up and wither. This resilience is actually what makes it such a great houseplant, but the "sharp" visual is what gave it the name that sticks in everyone's brain.
It’s not just about the "Tongue"
While the tongue reference is the most famous, the "Snake Plant" name is just as literal. The dark green cross-bands on the leaves look remarkably like the scales of a snake. Depending on where you live, you might also hear it called Saint George's Sword or Viper's Bowstring Hemp.
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That last one—Viper's Bowstring Hemp—actually tells you something useful. The fibers inside these leaves are incredibly strong. Historically, they were used to make high-quality bowstrings. So, while we’re busy making jokes about in-laws, ancestors were using the plant to hunt and survive. It’s a powerhouse of a plant disguised as a piece of decor.
Why Everyone Still Buys Them (Even With the Name)
Names aside, the reason this plant is in every corner of the globe is purely functional. It is arguably the most tolerant plant in the indoor gardening world. You can ignore it for a month. You can put it in a dark hallway where the sun barely reaches. It just sits there, looking stoic.
Back in 1989, NASA did this famous Clean Air Study. Dr. B.C. Wolverton led the research to find out which plants could actually scrub toxins from the air in sealed environments (like space stations). The snake plant was one of the top performers. It’s specifically good at filtering out formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene.
But here’s the kicker that most people miss: Most plants take in CO2 and release oxygen during the day while they’re photosynthesizing. At night, they actually flip and respire like we do. Not the snake plant. Because of a process called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), it actually releases oxygen at night.
That makes it the "perfect bedroom plant." It’s literally working the night shift to keep your air fresh while you sleep. Not bad for a plant with a "mean" nickname.
Botanists Keep Changing the Rules
If you want to sound like a real expert at the garden center, you should know that the scientific name changed recently. For decades, it was Sansevieria. In 2017, molecular phylogenetic studies (basically DNA testing for plants) proved that it was actually a member of the Dracaena genus.
A lot of old-school gardeners are still annoyed by this.
The Dracaena genus includes those "Lucky Bamboo" plants and the big "Corn Plants" you see in offices. When scientists looked at the genetic makeup, they realized the snake plant was just a Sansevieria in name only. It’s officially a Dracaena now. But let’s be real: no one is going to start calling it "Mother-in-Law's Dracaena."
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Varieties You Didn’t Know Existed
When we ask "why is snake plant called mother in law's tongue," we are usually thinking of the tall, yellow-edged Laurentii variety. That’s the classic. But the genus is actually huge.
- Sansevieria Cylindrica: This one looks like green cigars sticking out of the dirt. No flat "tongue" here, just smooth, round spears.
- Sansevieria Zeylanica: Similar to the classic, but without the yellow borders. It’s a moody, dark green mottled pattern.
- Whale Fin (Sansevieria masoniana): This is just one massive, wide leaf that looks like, well, a whale's fin. It’s a statement piece.
- Moonshine: A silvery, pale green variety that looks almost ethereal under low light.
Each one technically falls under the "Mother-in-Law's Tongue" umbrella, but they all bring a different vibe to a room.
The Dark Side: Toxicity and Pets
We have to talk about the "bite" of this tongue. While it isn't deadly to humans, the snake plant contains saponins. These are natural chemicals the plant uses to protect itself from fungi and insects. If your dog or cat decides to have a snack on those "tongues," they’re going to have a bad time.
Symptoms usually include:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Drooling.
- Diarrhea.
It’s a mild toxicity, but it’s enough to make your pet miserable. If you have a cat that likes to chew on greens, keep the snake plant on a high shelf or in a room the cat can't access. The "tongue" might not be sharp enough to cut skin, but the chemicals inside are definitely sharp enough to upset a stomach.
How to Actually Keep It Alive (The "Expert" Method)
People say you can’t kill them. They’re wrong. I’ve seen plenty of shriveled, mushy snake plants. The number one killer is "kindness." Or rather, what people think is kindness: too much water.
Since they are succulents, they store water in those thick, fleshy leaves. If the soil stays wet, the roots literally suffocate and rot. It’s a gross, smelly death.
The Golden Rule of Snake Plants: Ignore it.
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Seriously. In the winter, you might only need to water it once every 6 or 8 weeks. In the summer, maybe once every 3 weeks. You want the soil to be bone-dry—not "kind of dry," but dusty dry—before you even think about grabbing the watering can.
Lighting Secrets:
While they can survive in low light, they won't grow. They just sit there. If you want your snake plant to actually produce new "pups" (the little baby plants that sprout from the base), you need to give it bright, indirect light. Some varieties can even handle direct sun if you acclimate them slowly, which makes their colors pop and their leaves stand even taller.
Cultural Superstitions and Good Luck
It’s funny—despite the slightly insulting name in the West, many cultures view the snake plant as a symbol of protection and good luck.
In China, it was often kept near the entrances of homes because it was believed that the Eight Gods bestowed their eight virtues on those who grew it. These virtues include long life, prosperity, intelligence, and strength.
In some African traditions, the plant is used to ward off the "evil eye" or general bad energy. The vertical growth is seen as a way to point positive energy upward and keep the home's vibe "clean."
So, on one hand, it’s a jab at your spouse's mother. On the other hand, it’s a divine protector of the household. Life is full of contradictions.
Putting the "Mother-in-Law" Legend to Rest
At the end of the day, the name is just a relic of a time when mother-in-law jokes were the height of comedy. Today, we appreciate the plant for its architectural beauty and its ability to keep us alive by cleaning our air.
Whether you call it a snake plant, a Dracaena, or Mother-in-Law's Tongue, it remains one of the most rewarding plants for a beginner or a busy professional. It asks for almost nothing and gives back constant greenery and filtered air.
If you’re looking to add one to your space, here are the immediate steps you should take to ensure it thrives:
- Choose the right pot: Use a terra cotta pot with a large drainage hole. Terra cotta is porous and helps the soil dry out faster, which prevents root rot.
- Get the right soil: Don't use standard potting mix. Use a cactus or succulent mix that contains plenty of perlite or sand for drainage.
- Check the leaves: If the leaves start to wrinkle, the plant is thirsty. If they turn yellow and mushy at the base, you are watering too much.
- Dust the "tongues": Because the leaves are wide and flat, they collect dust. Wipe them down with a damp cloth every month so the plant can "breathe" and photosynthesize efficiently.
Stop overthinking it. Buy the plant, put it in a corner, and let it do its thing. It's survived millions of years of African droughts; it can definitely survive your living room.