‘Bird’s Nest’, Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’ – Details, Growing Tips

Common Names

‘Bird’s Nest’, ‘Good Luck Plant’, ‘Golden Bird’s Nest’, ‘Golden Hahnii’, ‘Dwarf Snake Plant’, ‘Birdsnest Plant’, ‘Bird’s Nest Sansevieria’, ‘Hahn’s Sansevieria’, ‘Dwarf Mother-in-Law Tongue’

Scientific Binomial Name

Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’

Description of Bird’s Nest, Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’

‘Bird’s Nest’, Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’ is a smaller cultivar of the well known Snake Plant. This succulent has a cacti-like appearance with interesting variegation.  The ‘Bird’s Nest’ grows in tight rosettes with oval green-golden leaves that have a wide central stripe that is green. It has whitish mottled horizontal bands of different widths across the leaves.  The vase-like rosettes have spirally arranged broad elliptical leaves.  This succulent never grows over a foot (30 cm) tall.

The ‘Bird’s Nest’ succulents naturally propagate from underground rhizomes which eventually form into clumps

This is a very hardy and easy plant to grow. It remains small which makes it ideal is some indoor areas of a home or office.

Mature Size:  height 7”; spread 8”

Outside Spacing:  6 inches.

Pot Size:  These are small and slow growing so they can be grown in terrariums and dish gardens.

Uses:  This plant is used outside as a groundcover and for edging.  It is drought resistant so it is suitable for xeriscaping. It is grown indoors as a houseplant. Since it maintains a small size it is often used in terrariums, dish gardens and as one of the best office plants.

Growing Conditions for ‘Bird’s Nest’, Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’

Light:  Tolerates low light and partial shade. This is a popular office plant because it is one of the top plants that grow in fluorescent lights.

Soil:  Use a general purpose cactus potting mix.

Flowers:  Creamy tan flowers bloom in mid-summer.  Bird’s Nest will not die after it flowers but it will stop producing new leaves.  The flowers apparently have a sweet aroma although we have never smelled them.  Some of these plants, depending on the growing conditions, rarely flower.  Even very healthy plants may be stubborn and not produce flowers.

Hardiness Zones:  10 and 11

General Care for ‘Bird’s Nest’, Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’

Water:  Water deeply but only when you are sure the soil is totally dry.

Fertilizer:  Use a one-half strength diluted fertilizer if needed. This plant is sensitive to over fertilizing so only use sparingly.

Propagation:  Propagation can be done by dividing the rootball, from offsets and from leaf cuttings.

Signs of Stress and Poor Health

These plants are very prone to rotting when they are over watered.

Medicinal and Other Uses

None

Cautions

This is a poisonous plant when ingested.

Native Distribution

West Africa

Patent

The patent has expired.

Other Tips

The Bird’s Nest looks great and grows well with other small sized succulents.

Other References

The ‘Bird’s Nest’, Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’ was part of a study in 2011 and it was found to be effective in removing formaldehyde from indoor air.

Purification of formaldehyde-polluted air by indoor plants of Araceae, Agavaceae and Liliaceae

Why was the study conducted?

“Increasing uses of resins and solvents such as formaldehyde (FDH) in construction and decoration materials have caused severe pollution of indoor air. FDH is a kind of colourless chemical with a strong pungent odour, especially steadily releasable for three to fifteen years. FDH together with other chemicals such as benzene causes serious hazards to human health. It is classified as the first class of human carcinogens by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) because it is capable of inducing cancers and tumours. Interest in the indoor air quality has become an earnest issue in China since there is a serious problem of excessive use of FDH in housing construction, reformation and decoration.  …The adoption of energy-saving proposals to reduce releases of indoor pollutants in homes has caused problems of inefficience in improvement of indoor air quality. Consequently, it allowed potential health hazards remaining.”

What did the study conclude?

“The absorption of formaldehyde by plants in the glass box chamber was found especially apparent during the first three days. In conclusion, ten species of the plants recommendable to be used to apply for formaldehyde purification were Scindapsus aureus, Asparagus setaceus, S. trifasciata cv. Hahnii, C. comosum, A. commutatum cv. White Rajah, A. commutatum cv. Red Narrow, A. commutatum cv. Treubii, S. pictus cv. Argyraeus, G. gracilis and P. sodiroi cv. Wendimbe. These ten plants have high absorption ability to formaldehyde and receive less damage.”

Summary

The ‘Bird’s Nest’ is a great indoor succulent houseplant that is very easy to take care of.  To know that it may be helping to clean your indoor air is just an added bonus! One last thought, the Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’, ‘Bird’s Nest’ looks great matched with other succulents.