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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Asparagaceae (~Liliaceae) |
| Origin: Ethiopia (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Infrequent |
| Synonyms: [Dracaena erythraeae, S. schweinfurthii] |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: >32° F |
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Sansevieria erythraeae (Pencil Sansevieria) - A stemless rhizomatous succulent 2 to 3 feet tall with open fan shaped rosettes of 6 to 8 upright round stiff cylindrically shaped green leaves with that taper to a sharp point at the tip and have narrow longitudinal channels that also create slightly raised ridges but otherwise are smooth to the touch. Flowering occurs in spring and early summer when plant is given ample light and warm temperatures with delicately scented flowers in a tight panicles on a 20 inch tall stalk and it is said that this plant is sometimes grown for its ability to purify the air with the scent of its flowers. Will tolerate low light levels but grows best and flowers if given bright light and even tolerates full sun. Hardy to 30-32° F. Water sparingly and not at all as temperatures dip in winter but can tolerate going months between watering. If growing outdoors in frost free areas keep in a covered patio or under an eave where plants do not receive winter rainfall. A great container plant that needs little care. Sansevieria erythraeae comes from near rivers is semi-desert areas in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and the Sudan in northeastern Africa. The name for the genus was originally Sanseverinia as named by the Italian botanist Vincenzo Petagna in honor of his patron, Pietro Antonio Sanseverino, the Count of Chiaromonte (1724-1771), but the name was altered for unknown reasons by the Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg, possibly influenced by the name of Raimondo di Sangro (1710–1771), prince of San Severo in Italy. The spellings "Sanseveria" and "Sanseviera" are also commonly seen. The specific epithet as described in 1918 by Giovanni Ettore Mattei (1865-1943) comes from the Ancient Greek Eruthrá as the name for Eritrea and the area around the Red Sea. The synonym, Sansevieria schweinfurthii, is often used for this plant and is in fact the name that we received it under.Long placed in the Agavaceae, the Dracaenaceae and by some in the Ruscaceae families, Sansevieria was most recently placed in the subfamily Nolinoideae within the Asparagaceae family. Molecular phylogenetic studies however have determined that Sansevieria should actually be included in the genus Dracaena and so this plant would correctly be called Dracaena erythraeae. Because of the long standing use of its old name, and to not cause customer confusion, we continue to list this plant under its previous Sansevieria name.
The information on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library and from online sources as well as from observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery's garden and in other gardens that we have observed it in. We also will incorporate comments received from others and always appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have additional information, particularly if this information is contrary to what we have written or includes additional cultural tips that might aid others in growing Sansevieria erythraeae.
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