sansevieria

American  

[san-suh-vee-eer-ee-uh, -suh-veer-ee-uh] / ˌsæn sə viˈɪər i ə, -səˈvɪər i ə /

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Sansevieria, of the agave family, grown as a houseplant for its stiff, sword-shaped leaves and white or yellow flowers.

---

sansevieria British  

/ ˌsænsɪˈvɪərɪə /

noun

1. any herbaceous perennial plant of the liliaceous genus Sansevieria, of Old World tropical regions. Some are cultivated as house plants for their erect bayonet-like fleshy leaves of variegated green (mother-in-law's tongue); others yield useful fibre (bowstring hemp)

---

Etymology

Origin of sansevieria

1795–1805; < New Latin; named after San Seviero, principality of Raimondo di Sangro (1710–71), learned Neapolitan; see -ia

Example Sentences

Five easy-to-grow plants recommended by RHS include the Madagascar dragon tree, English ivy, rubber plant, Boston fern and Sansevieria trifasciata.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

Too much watering, and not even drainage, did my Sansevieria in.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2022

The building has a large atrium filled with ficus; Chinese evergreens; Schefflera, also known as an umbrella tree; and Sansevieria, also known as snake tongue or mother-in-law’s tongue.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 8, 2021

Without the obligations of children and mortgages, millennials are finding solace in their Sansevieria and Monstera deliciosa and cultivating a sense of homeownership with plants.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2018

Sisal hemp and Sansevieria have been experimented with, but without any distinct influence upon the trade output.

From The Hawaiian Islands Their Resources, Agricultural, Commercial and Financial by Hawaii. Dept. of Foreign Affairs