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Species library › Dracaena › Dracaena pethera
Succulents Partly documented

Dracaena pethera

The plant long known as Sansevieria kirkii, a stemless snake plant from East Africa with thick, wavy-edged, strongly patterned leaves up to about 70 cm long. It was renamed Dracaena pethera in 2018, when Sansevieria was merged into Dracaena and the name D. kirkii was already taken. It grows in dry coastal and inland bush and needs bright light, warmth and a dry rest.

Dracaena pethera
Photo: W.J. HookerPeter A. Mansfeld for the filtred image., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
At home, aim for
Day Warm-growingTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry
Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Wild observations come from coastal coral-rag bush and islands off Kenya and Tanzania (Wasini, Pemba, Misali, Zanzibar), with inland records near Ruaha and one from Serenje in Zambia. It forms clumps from strong rhizomes in the partial shade of shrubs and among rocks.

Mostly near sea level on the coast and islands; inland records probably come from about 500–1500 m. No elevations are recorded.

KenyaTanzania (incl. Zanzibar and Pemba)Zambia

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its Public domain licence, unmodified.