Sansevieria Fernwood (Mikado Snake Plant) - Dracaena angolensis 'Fernwood'

Plant Overview

Sansevieria Fernwood, also sold as the Mikado Snake Plant (Dracaena angolensis 'Fernwood', formerly classified as Sansevieria), is a striking, cylindrical-leaved succulent known for its architectural, spiky silhouette and near-indestructible nature. Grown in a healthy 4-inch nursery pot, this variety features narrower, more graceful leaves than the classic broad-leaved snake plant, fanning outward in a way that reads as sculptural rather than stiff. It's an ideal choice for beginners, busy households, or anyone in Vancouver's lower-light apartments looking for a plant that forgives an inconsistent watering schedule.

• Live Plant
• Healthy Nursery Grown
• 4-Inch Pot
• Easy Care
• Indoor Plant

Botanical Information

This plant belongs to the Asparagaceae family. Taxonomists have reclassified the genus Sansevieria into Dracaena based on genetic research, so you will see this plant labeled as either Dracaena angolensis or by its long-familiar name, Sansevieria. 'Fernwood' is prized for its narrower, more upright cylindrical leaves compared to the flat-leaved snake plants most people picture, giving it a fountain-like, fern-adjacent look that inspired its common name.

Why You'll Love This Plant

Few houseplants tolerate neglect as gracefully as a snake plant. Fernwood's slender, gently arching leaves add textural contrast to a plant collection dominated by broad-leaved tropicals, and its tolerance for low light and irregular watering makes it a genuinely low-stress addition to any room.

Specifications

Plant Features

Thick, semi-cylindrical leaves in mottled green banding radiate outward from a central base, giving the plant a spiky, fan-like form. As a succulent, it stores water in its leaves, which is part of what makes it so drought-tolerant. Mature plants can occasionally send up small, fragrant, tubular flower spikes, though this is uncommon indoors.

Plant Care Guide

Light Requirements

Fernwood adapts to a wide range of light, from bright indirect light to fairly low light, making it well suited to interior rooms or north-facing windows. It also tolerates several hours of direct sun once acclimated.

Water Requirements

Let the soil dry out completely between waterings, then water thoroughly. As a succulent-type plant, Fernwood is far more likely to suffer from overwatering than underwatering, so err on the side of watering less often, especially in winter.

Humidity

Average indoor humidity is entirely sufficient; this plant has no special humidity requirements and adapts well to the dry air common in Canadian homes during winter.

Temperature

Fernwood prefers typical indoor temperatures between 15 and 27 degrees Celsius and should be kept away from prolonged exposure to cold drafts or frost.

Soil

Use a fast-draining succulent or cactus mix, or amend a standard potting soil generously with perlite or coarse sand, since good drainage is essential to prevent root rot.

Fertilizer

Feed sparingly with a diluted, balanced fertilizer once or twice during the spring and summer growing season. This plant grows slowly and does not need frequent feeding.

Repotting

Fernwood prefers being slightly root-bound and only needs repotting every two to three years, or when it visibly outgrows its pot.

Pruning

Little pruning is needed. Simply remove any damaged or discolored leaves at the base with clean shears as needed.

Propagation

Propagate by dividing rhizome sections at the base of the plant, or by rooting leaf cuttings in water or soil, though division is faster and preserves variegation more reliably.

Growth Rate

Growth is slow, with new leaf fans emerging gradually over the course of a year.

Mature Size

Indoors, Fernwood typically reaches 30 to 60 centimetres in height with a similarly modest spread.

Indoor Care

This snake plant variety is exceptionally well suited to indoor life anywhere in Canada. It tolerates the lower light levels found in many apartments and offices, and its drought tolerance makes it forgiving of an inconsistent care routine.

Outdoor Care

Fernwood can summer outdoors in a sheltered, partly shaded spot once nighttime temperatures are reliably above 10 degrees Celsius, but it must be brought indoors before fall frost, as it has no cold hardiness.

Flowering Information

Mature, well-established plants can occasionally produce small, fragrant, greenish-white flower spikes, typically in spring, though indoor blooming is uncommon and not the main reason this plant is grown.

Pet Safety

Snake plants, including Fernwood, are considered mildly toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, and can cause drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea. Keep it away from pets prone to chewing on houseplants.

Air Purifying Benefits

Sansevieria trifasciata, a close relative of this plant, was included in NASA's Clean Air Study and shown to help filter certain indoor air pollutants. While Fernwood itself has not been individually tested, it belongs to the same air-filtering genus commonly associated with these benefits.

Common Problems

Soft, mushy, or discolored leaves are almost always a sign of overwatering or poor drainage and can indicate root rot. Wrinkled or curling leaves suggest the plant has gone too long without water.

Pest Management

Snake plants are relatively pest-resistant, though mealybugs and spider mites can occasionally appear. Wipe leaves periodically and treat any infestation with insecticidal soap.

Styling Ideas

Fernwood's spiky, fountain-like form makes a striking contrast against soft, round-leaved plants. Place it in a sculptural ceramic pot on a plant stand or entryway console for an architectural statement piece.

Perfect For

Beginners, low-light apartments, forgetful waterers, and anyone rounding out a low-maintenance plant collection with an air-filtering option from our air purifying plants range.

Seasonal Care

Water even less frequently in fall and winter, when growth slows considerably. In spring and summer, resume light feeding and slightly more regular watering as the plant re-enters active growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I water Sansevieria Fernwood? Only once the soil has dried out completely, which may be every two to four weeks depending on your home.

Can Fernwood survive in low light? Yes, it tolerates low to bright indirect light very well.

Is this plant toxic to pets? It is considered mildly toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Why is Fernwood also called Dracaena angolensis? Genetic reclassification moved Sansevieria species into the genus Dracaena.

Does Fernwood purify the air? A closely related species was included in NASA's Clean Air Study; results are commonly associated with the broader Sansevieria group.

How big does Fernwood get? Typically 30 to 60 centimetres tall indoors.

How do I propagate it? By dividing the rhizome at the base of established plants.

Why are the leaves going soft or mushy? This usually points to overwatering or root rot.

Does it need fertilizer? Only lightly, once or twice during the growing season.

Can I keep it outdoors year-round in BC? No, it must come indoors before frost as it has no cold hardiness.

Why Buy From Us

We grow and inspect every snake plant before it ships, ensuring your Fernwood arrives with healthy roots and strong foliage. Our Vancouver-based team is happy to help troubleshoot care questions as your plant settles in.

Order Yours Today

Add an easy, architectural touch to your space with a Sansevieria Fernwood, delivered fresh from our BC greenhouse.