The Sansevieria cylindrica (African spear plant) is an unusual-looking succulent plant that grows thick cylindrical leaves. It is very low maintenance and thrives on neglect.
This plant can survive indoors in low light, needs little water, and does not have many care problems, making it a great house plant.
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Sansevieria Cylindrica
Botanical name: Dracaena angolensis (formerly classified as Sanseviera cylindrical) Common names: African Spear Plant, cylindrical snake plant, bow-string hemp, pencil Sansevieria or Sansevieria dragon fingers.
Native to arid and semi-arid regions of West Africa, including countries like Angola, Nigeria, and the Congo. There is grows in well-draining, sandy, or rocky soils, in full to partial sun. Making it adaptable to varying levels of sunlight.
This African spear plant grows stiff cylindrical leaves from underground rhizomes in a distinctive fan shape. Yes, that’s right. The leaves don’t naturally grow up straight but radiate outwards in all directions. More on that later.
Read more: Beginners Guide to Succulent Care. It has all you need to take care of indoor succulents.
Want more Snake plants? Check out this list full of Sansevieria houseplants!
Light Requirements
The cylindrical Sansevieria can survive in low light but will do better when it gets bright, indirect light.
If kept in shady conditions this slow-growing plant will grow even slower, and the leaves will not grow as tall or thick.
Avoid too much direct sunlight. Dry leaf tips or brown spots on the leaves can be a sign of sunburn. Move your plant further away from the window, or filter the light with a sheer curtain.
Watering
Overwatering is the most common problem in Sansevieria cylindrica care. They store water in their leaves, roots, and rhizomes, so they can go without water for a long time.
They are prone to root rot so let the soil dry out completely between waterings to prevent overwatering. Usually, you wouldn’t need to water the African spear plant more than once or twice a month.
If in doubt, don’t water yet. An underwatered plant is easier to save than an overwatered plant.
Healthy sansevieria leaves should be firm and thick. Signs of an underwatered cylindrica are wrinkled leaves that are shriveling, have dry brown tips, and might even start to bend.
Signs of overwatering are leaves turning yellow, soft, and mushy. Frequent overwatering can lead to root rot problems.
Water very sparingly in winter. Water it just enough to make sure not to let the leaves shrivel up completely.
Read more: Get all the details on how and when to water succulents.
Fertilizing
Cylindrical snake plants are not heavy feeders. It is enough to fertilize once or twice during the growing season with a diluted liquid succulent fertilizer. Or treat your plant to a specially formulated fertilizer for snake plants.
Don’t fertilize at all in winter when growth slows down. Also never fertilize your plant if it is recently repotted or is having issues.
Soil and Repotting
The Sansevieria cylindrica is a slow-growing plant and does not need to be repotted very often.
Over time, the cylindrica grows pups around its base. It will outgrow its pot when it’s overcrowded with leaf spears. Repot in spring in a pot one size bigger than the original.
Another sign to repot your cylindrical Sansevieria is when it literally bursts out of its pot. This is common with Snake plants when the underground rhizomes get too crowded and push against the inside of the pot.
If your plant is in a plastic pot, you will see or feel bumps on the side. Rhizomes growing tight in a clay pot might actually crack it.
Plant in well-draining succulent soil. Make sure the new pot has drainage holes on the bottom. Without those, excess water has no way to get out and will drown the roots.
If you want to learn more, there’s an article with all the tips on how to repot your houseplants.
Pruning
Generally, Sansevieria cylindrica does not require any pruning.
Maybe you want to cut tall or damaged leaves. If so, cut as close to the base of the plant as possible.
Don’t throw away the cuttings if they are still healthy, you can propagate these and plant them back in to make the parent plant grow fuller.
Is your Sansevieria cylindrica not growing? Spears with damaged leaf tips stop growing and won’t get any taller.
Sansevieria Cylindrica Propagation
The easiest way to propagate a large Sansevieria cylindrica is through division. You can remove and repot single leaves or split the entire plant into two or three parts.
You can also propagate leaf cuttings in water or soil but it will take much longer. You might have to wait weeks for roots and new leaves to grow.
Want to know more about how to propagate by division, removing pups, or water propagation? Read the complete guide on how to propagate your plants, or more specifically, get the details about how to water propagate your snake plants.
Braided Sansevieria Cylindrica
Braided Sansevierias are often sold as Sansevieria cylindrical ‘Braids’ or African Twist Sansevieria.
Let’s be clear about this: Snake plants don’t naturally grow like this.
Also, the braided plants won’t grow any taller and any new growth won’t be braided. New regular baby pups can grow around the base over time.
Braided sansevierias are created as a store novelty. Stem cuttings are cut at the same length, braided, and placed in pots for sale.
There are even some tutorials online telling you how to braid your Sansevieria cylindrica.
My opinion? Well, just because you can braid these plants, doesn’t mean you should. It’s a gimmick. Furthermore, if the leaves are healthy they are stiff and not very bendable. So you will most likely break some in the process.
And don’t get me started about Sansevierias with painted leaf tips or covered in flocking powder. Well maybe I will go on a separate rant about that, but I’ll save it for another time.
For now, let’s continue and talk about flowers on a cylindrical Sansevieria.
Flowers
Mature cylindrical Sansevierias can flower when they get enough bright light and are overall very happy with the care they are getting.
Don’t worry if your plant doesn’t bloom. Most indoor Sansevierias don’t flower at all.
If they do, it is usually in spring or early summer. The fragrant white or pink flowers are small and come out in clusters on long flower stalks. You can remove the stalks when they are done flowering.
Leaves not Growing Straight
If you are wondering why the leaves of your Sansevieria cylindrica are not growing straight, let me tell you there is nothing to worry about.
Just like the Sansevieria Fernwood, the cylindrical Sansevieria snake plants are often sold with leaves perfectly straight in the pot. Plant growers that supply the stores take straight leaf cuttings and plant them upright in the pots.
This might look pretty, but isn’t how they naturally grow. Eventually, the leaves will grow pups showing the rosette form of growth. The leaves will curl and fan outwards as this is their natural growth habit.
Sansevieria Cylindrica Toxic to Cats?
The Sansevieria cylindrical is considered mildly toxic when ingested. It can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
It is very rare for pets to get seriously hurt from eating plants. But some plants can make your pet sick.
Better safe than sorry, keep this plant out of reach of your pets if they like to munch on your plants.
Further information on the question – Are Sansevieria Snake Plants Toxic?
Love the Sansevieria cylindrica? Check out its cultivar, the Starfish Sansevieria!