18 Must-Have Sansevieria Hahnii Varieties For Your Collection
Sansevieria Hahnii (Bird’s Nest Snake Plant) make plant care simple for beginners, collectors, and busy plant owners alike. This snake plant needs little water and some indirect light. Otherwise, it is flexible as a houseplant or ground cover.
The wild species once called Sansevieria trifasciata (pronounced san-suh-veer-ee-uh trye-fash-ee-ah-tuh) comes from central-western Africa. The core domestic stock that gave way to dwarfism, Hahnii (HAHN-ee-eye), originated in New Orleans, Louisiana.
All Sansevieria Hahnii prefer temperatures from 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 24 degrees Celsius) and any indirect light. They have delicate roots that need lots of air, or they rot fast. Cactus mix, pebbles, and perlite in a terracotta pot will help you avoid overwatering.
This list will lead you through 18 Sansevieria Hahnii varieties. A few are common, but most are rare, and collectors enjoy searching online for their next addition. They are rated from 1 to 5, with 5 being the easiest score indicating no special needs beyond what they all require.
1. Sansevieria Hahnii Green (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Hahnii‘)
Ease of Care: 5. It’s perfect for beginners.
Green Hahnii (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii) are the original Bird’s Nest Snake Plant variety. They have zig-zagging horizontal lines across their leaves with one type of green for the lines and outer rim and another green for the rest of the leaf. Their green is a more natural type that’s not golden, silver, or emerald.
This Hahnii sets the care standard for the rest of the cultivars. It’s why many cultivars are happy with little specialized care. They like low to high indirect light, normal household temperature ranges and humidity levels, and need little water.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Hahnii, Green Hahnii, Sansevieria Hahnii ‘Forest Star’, Green Dwarf Snake Plant, Dwarf Mother-in-Law Tongue, Bird’s nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata is native to central western Africa from Nigeria to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hahnii was discovered in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1939 by William W. Smith, Jr. and patented in 1941 by Sylvan Frank Hahn, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. |
| Full Size | 12 in (30 cm) |
2. Sansevieria Hahnii Gaster (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Gaster’)
Ease of Care: 3. Gaster needs a specialized potting mix more than other cultivars.
‘Gaster’ dwarf snake plants are a rare cultivar that resembles the base Hahnii variety but with leaves that stay at a 45-degree angle like a young plant. It also grows as a miniature dwarf at 5 in (12 cm), half the size of most dwarf snake plants.
Already, dwarf snake plants have one deficit from other snake plants: they have more delicate roots that rot faster. As a miniature dwarf, gaster Hahnii needs even more care for their potting mix. You will need a cactus mix or a similar composition of larger materials yourself to allow more air. It will save you from trying to rescue your plant from root rot.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Gaster’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Gaster’(pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Gaster, Gaster Hahnii, Gaster Dwarf Snake Plant, Gaster Bird’s Nest Sansevieria, Sansevieria Hahnii Crested |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 5 in (12 cm) |
3. Sansevieria Hahnii Jade (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Jade’)
Ease of Care: 5. The solid color lets it tolerate low and high light better.
You will find Jade dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Jade’) under many names. But they are all dwarf snake plants with a solid, darker green – no lines, no margins, just one uniform green.
The color will vary depending on how much light the plant gets. In bright indirect light, it’ll have a medium, richer tone. In low light, it will be darker and earn its other common names, black dragon or black jade.
As a darker, solid-colored plant, the Jade doesn’t need extra light to produce colors. It will also burn less easily in bright light and will grow partial shade on a patio.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Jade’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Jade’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Jade, Jade Hahnii, Black Dragon Hahnii, Black Jade Hahnii, Jade Dwarf Snake Plant, Jade Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 12 in (30 cm) |
4. Sansevieria Loop’s Pride (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Loop’s Pride’)
Ease of Care: 3. It tolerates all indirect light but is more sensitive to water and temperature.
Loop’s pride dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Whitney ‘Loop’s Pride’) appears like a cross between the original, the Jade, and the Gaster Hahnii. The leaves have horizontal, two-toned bands on the edges like the Green Hahnii while the solid dark green of the Jade covers the rest.
As for the gaster, Loop’s pride shares the extra thick, spined leaf structure. It also grows denser and shorter compared to the rest, which has a true bird’s nest habit.
If you can find this rare cultivar, it prefers to stay at an optimum temperature. So if you want to keep it outside, it will handle cooler nights worse than other cultivars. Like the gaster, a miniature among dwarfs, Loop’s pride also has more delicate roots.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Loop’s Pride’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Loop’s Pride’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Loop’s Pride, Loop’s Pride Hahnii, Loop’s Pride Dwarf Snake Plant, Loop’s Pride Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. ‘Loop’s Pride’ was developed by Loop’s Nursery in Jacksonville, Florida, in the 1960s. |
| Full Size | 8 in (20 cm) |
5. Sansevieria Emerald Star (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Emerald Star’)
Ease of Care: 5. The solid color lets it tolerate low and high light better.
Emerald star dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Emerald Star’) developed from the Jade dwarf plant to have thin golden margins on the leaves. The green portions of the leaves respond to light the same way as regular jades. It will have a rich medium green in bright light but dark green in low light.
This variety is often confused with other cultivars with wider margins. Some people may call it a Jade Hahnii even though it has a gold edge. Emerald stars are also hard to come by. Since most of the leaves are solid green, they have identical needs to the Jade dwarf snake plant.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Emerald Star’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Emerald Star’’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Emerald Star, Emerald Star Hahnii, Emerald Star, Emerald Star Dwarf Snake Plant, Emerald Star Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 8 in (20 cm) |
6. Sansevieria Black Star (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Black Star’)
Ease of Care: 4. There is enough variegation to benefit from brighter indirect light.
Black star dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Black Star’) developed from Jade dwarf snake plants to have broad golden margins. The green on the rest of the leaf will vary depending on how much light it grows in. It can be a rich green in bright light to almost black in low light.
The broader colorful margins need some help to produce the most contrast with the dark green. So for cultivars like these, you want medium to bright indirect light. Low light may not be enough to help the plant bring out the more saturated gold.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Black Star’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Black Star’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Black Star, Black Star, Black Star Hahnii, Black Star Dwarf Snake Plant, Black Star Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 8 in (20 cm) |
7. Sansevieria Jade Marginata (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Jade Marginata’)
Ease of Care: 4. It has enough variegation to benefit more from brighter indirect light.
Jade Marginata dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Jade Marginata’) developed from Black Star dwarf snake plants. ‘Jade Marginata’ have similar thick cream to golden margins and medium to dark green leaves depending on how much light it grows in. What makes them different are their yellow vertical streaks on the green area, often on one half.
This cultivar is similar enough to the black star to have identical extra requirements. The light streaks and margins stand out more if they have medium to high indirect light. Also, don’t confuse bright indirect light with direct, as non-green leaves are more susceptible to burning.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Jade Marginata’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Jade Marginata’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Hahnii Jade Marginata, Sensevieria Hahnii Jade Marginated, Jade Pagoda Dwarf Snake Plant, Jade Pagoda Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 8 in (20 cm) |
8. Sansevieria Golden Hahnii (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Golden’)
Ease of Care: 3. It has lots of color that need more light for the most vibrant appearance.
Golden dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Golden’) share traits from several cultivars but also have a yellow-green or yellow-gray hue. It has the horizontal markings of the original Hahnii, yet it has the broad solid gold margins and vertical lines of the Jade Marginata. Like the Jade Marginata’s green, the darkness or lightness of the color depends on how much light it gets.
This variety is one of the most colorful of the dwarf snake plants. Some have more green and gray, while others have several tones of bright gold. All this extra color requires more light, so golden needs the most indirect light of the Hahnii.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Golden’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Golden’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Gold, Golden Hahnii, Golden Star, Sunny Star, Golden Dwarf Snake Plant, Golden Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. ‘Golden Hahnii’ was developed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and patented by Sylvan Hahn (Plant Patent Number 1224) in 1953. |
| Full Size | 8 in (20 cm) |
9. Sansevieria Hahnii Solid Gold (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Solid Gold’)
Ease of Care: 4. The gold color needs more light for full vibrance.
Solid gold dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Solid Gold’) developed from the golden dwarf snake plant. But the golden cultivar has gold margins and light green to gold in the middle, while Solid Gold cultivars have yellow-green on the rim and a solid gold middle.
This cultivar has more gold than its parent. If you want to see more saturated gold, the plant needs brighter indirect light. Thanks to its green margins, it can tolerate lower light if it must.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Solid Gold’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Solid Gold’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Solid Gold, Solid Gold Hahnii, Solid Gold Dwarf Snake Plant, Solid Gold Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 12 in (30 cm) |
10. Sansevieria Philippine Gold (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Philippine Gold’)
Ease of Care: 3. To make it almost entirely gold, it needs lots of bright indirect light.
‘Philippine Gold’ dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Philippine Gold’) will catch your eye before other cultivars. The leaves can have almost solid lemon yellow with a hint of white horizontal bands and a thin medium green margin. They can also have a washed-out lemon that lets the white bands and core green steak be more noticeable.
Like other golden cultivars, the Philippine gold needs lots of bright indirect sunlight for its best displays. Otherwise, the original Hahnii patterns and colors show more. The yellow will remain in low light, but it will have a softer and more transparent appearance.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Philippine Gold’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Philippine Gold’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Philippine Gold, Philippine Gold Hahnii, Philippine Gold Dwarf Snake Plant, Philippine Gold Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 12 in (30 cm) |
11. Sansevieria Hahnii Silver (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Silver’)
Ease of Care: 4. It needs medium indirect light or more for its best appearance.
‘Silver’ dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver’) took the leaf pattern of the base Hahnii variety and added a silver sheen. So green lines the margins and runs on horizontal bands while light silver green fills the rest of the area.
On the same plant, the top leaves may have an almost solid silver sheen, while the lower leaves may look like the original green Hahnii.
The silver color needs more light than green but less than gold. Medium indirect light supports this variation.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Silver, Silver Hahnii, Silver Dwarf Snake Plant, Silver Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. ‘Silver Hahnii’ was developed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and patented in 1953 by Sylvan Hahn in the United States. |
| Full Size | 8 in (20 cm) |
12. Sansevieria ‘Silver Marginata’ (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Silver Marginata’)
Ease of Care: 4. It develops its best colors in medium indirect light.
‘Silver Marginata’ Hahnii (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver Marginata’) go by many names. The leaves have silver-green with neutral green horizontal stripes like its parent silver dwarf plant. What makes it distinct are the cream-colored margins.
Like its close relative, this cultivar prefers medium indirect light for the best color display, though it tolerates anything from low to bright. On the same plant, older and more shaded leaves lose the silver but keep the creamy margin.
Silver Marginata is the most common name, but businesses also sell it as Night Owl, Misty Star, Silver Star, Blue Star, and Starlight.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver Marginata’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver Marginata’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Silver Marginata, Silver Marginata Hahnii, Night Owl Hahnii, Misty Star, Starlight, Silver Marginata Dwarf Snake Plant, Silver Marginata Bird’s Nest Snake Plant, Hahnii ‘Silver Star’, Hahnii Cream, Hahnii ‘Blue Star’ |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. ‘Silver Marginata’ was developed in South Africa. |
| Full Size | 8 in (20 cm) |
13. Sansevieria Silver Streak (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Silver Streak’)
Ease of Care: 4. If you want a solid color, the streak needs more medium indirect light.
‘Silver Streak’ dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver Streak’) look like the base Hahnii variety. Silver streaks have distinct horizontal markings of a lighter and dark green, but they also have a vertical silver streak. Some plants will have washed out silver, while others have a solid streak.
This cultivar has more green than the other silver varieties, making it more tolerant of low light or moments of direct light. But if you admire the more solid streak over the transparent appearance, the dwarf snake plant will need medium indirect light.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver Streak’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver Streak’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Silver Streak, Streaker, Streaker Hahnii, Silver Streak Dwarf Snake Plant, Silver Streak Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 12 in (30 cm) |
14. Sansevieria Silver Frost (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Silver Frost’)
Ease of Care: 4. The more frost you want to see, the more light the plant needs.
‘Silver Frost’ dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver Frost’) look like a washed-out variety that doesn’t closely resemble the others. It has gold and dark green narrow margins and two shades of faded silver green horizontal banding and vertical streaks.
If you want the heavily frosted appearance where the plant is almost white with hints of green, give it more light. The silver frost Hahnii prefers brighter indirect light. It will still have the frosty look in medium light, but individuals grown in low light may start to look more green than silver.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver Frost’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Silver Frost’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Silver Frost, Silver Frost Hahnii, Silver Frost Dwarf Snake Plant, Silver Frost Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 12 in (30 cm) |
15. Sansevieria Ocean Star (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Ocean Star’)
Ease of Care: 4. The more intense light, the more contrast, but it is otherwise happy in low light.
‘Ocean Star’ Hahnii (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Ocean Star’) appears as a cross between the Green Hahnii variety and the Silver Hahnii. The leaves are a medium green along the gold margin and horizontal markings. Then it has silver to light green for the rest of the leaf. Unlike the silver Hahnii, the medium green bars take up more space than the silver.
This dwarf snake plant doesn’t need as much light as its golden and silver cousins, but it benefits from more than what the jade varieties need. The waving horizontal bands have a strong color contrast in more light. Otherwise, the extra green lets it thrive in any indirect light.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Ocean Star’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Ocean Star’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Ocean Star, Ocean Star Hahnii, Ocean Star, Ocean Star Dwarf Snake Plant, Ocean Star Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 12 in (30 cm) |
16. Sansevieria Hahnii Seibert (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Seibert’)
Ease of Care: 5. It has no specific needs compared to other Sansevieria Hahnii.
‘Seibert’ dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Seibert’) combine the appearances of several Hahnii cultivars. You can see the same light and medium tone greens as horizontal bars like the base variety. But the core of the leaf has vertical streaks. Depending on the plant, the green can have more of a yellow hue, neutral green, or silver-green.
This rare cultivar has subtle but green markings. The green enables it to do better than many dwarf snake plants in any light, though it still does best in indirect light.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Seibert’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Seibert’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Seibert, Seibert Hahnii, Seibert Dwarf Snake Plant, Seibert Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 12 in (30 cm) |
17. Sansevieria Lucille Polan (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Lucille Polan’)
Ease of Care: 4. The colors do best if you can provide medium to bright indirect light.
‘Lucille Polan’ dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Lucille Polan’) looks similar to ‘Golden Hahnii’, but they are 2 different varieties. ”Lucille Polan’ has more green tissue present, especially on the edges of the leaves.
‘Lucille Polan’ also closely resemble the ‘Seibert’ Hahnii. Both have horizontal and vertical bands. But while the Seibert has a green outer rim and a middle golden streak, the Lucille Polan has the outer green, a secondary, thin border of gold. Then it has a center with green silver.
This rare cultivar is comparable in care to other Gold Hahnii varieties. The golden markings and contrast of lighter and darker bars stand out more in medium to bright indirect light.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Lucille Polan’ (as of 2017) Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Lucille Polan’ (pre-2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Lucille Polan, Lucille Polan Hahnii, Lucille Polan Dwarf Snake Plant, Lucille Polan Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Full Size | 12 in (30 cm) |
18. Sansevieria Stars and Stripes (Dracaena trifasciata Hahnii ‘Stars and Stripes’)
Ease of Care: 4. It has enough non-green color to prefer medium to bright indirect light.
‘Stars & Stripes’ dwarf snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Stars and Stripes’) are a newer cultivar. While you can still see the bands from the original variety, this cultivar makes the most of borders and vertical bands. Gold lines the margins. Then it has a broad band of dark green and a core with vertical yellow-green and light green.
The golden-green vertical streaks darken with age and lower light. You can still see the markings, but they’ll have a subtleness. If you prefer the stronger color contrast, medium to bright indirect light helps.
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata var. Hahnii ‘Stars and Stripes’ (as of 2017) |
| Commons Names | Sansevieria Stars and Stripes, Stars and Stripes Hahnii, Stars and Stripes Dwarf Snake Plant, Stars and Stripes Bird’s Nest Sansevieria |
| Region of Origin | Sansevieria trifasciata: central western Africa.Hahnii: New Orleans, Louisiana. ‘Stars and Stripes’ possibly developed in India. |
| Full Size | 12 in (30 cm) |
Conclusion
Sansevieria Hahnii always has more varieties being invented and new names given to existing cultivars. It can be challenging to track which ones are the same and which are different. But they are all easy to care for and come in enough colors and patterns to liven your home. If you live in a warm climate or it’s summer, Hahnii will also add to your yard or porch.
