It’s a hardy succulent that has long, narrow, sword-like leaves and represents good luck and long life. Thanks to the strong pointed ends of its upright, reptilian-looking leaves, this plant is not only super easy to maintain but keeps your air clean and has long been believed to promise a prosperous future to anyone who owns one.
For these reasons and lots more, 1-800-Flowers.com announces the snake plant as the 2025 Plant of the Year.
An easygoing plant
Also called mother-in-law’s tongue, the snake plant is officially known as Dracaena trifasciata. It was discovered and classified with the name Sanseverinia in the late 1700s by Italian biologist Vincenzo Petagna but was reclassified in 2014 to the Draecana family.
Seventy species of this low-maintenance plant grow in tropical and subtropical regions of West Africa, including Nigeria, Congo, and Madagascar, where it has long been used as rope or to weave into baskets. 1-800-Flowers.com sources most of its snake plants from Florida, with a few coming from California, near Santa Barbara, according to Kevin Cochran, the company’s vice president of procurement.
Many snake plant varieties have color-striped leaves. When the plant is happy and thriving, it may even start to bloom with small, fragrant white flowers.
Best of all, snake plants are among the most easy going houseplants and require very little TLC — especially if you aren’t super confident about your green thumb.
“It’s one of those plants that will be there for you, even if you don’t have all the time in the world to care for it,” says Alfred Palomares, vice president of merchandising at 1-800-Flowers.com, adding that while these plants grow slowly, they can reach 12 feet and live for over a decade. “Your snake plant is going to shine and bring you happiness and all the joy you want from a plant — without the guilt.”
Snake plants are also ideal health boosters, and great for anyone with allergies. That’s because they’re what’s known as “air scrubbers” — plants that work overnight to release oxygen and filter the air of such toxins as formaldehyde and benzene.
Just take caution, though, if you have pets or young children in your home as snake plants contain saponins, chemical compounds that are toxic to cats and dogs.
“The sap has some medicinal qualities; in some places in Madagascar, they use it as a bandage to stave off bacterial infections,” Cochran says. “But the leaves are toxic and shouldn’t be ingested. Be sure to keep them out of reach of children and pets.”
A forever symbol of good fortune — and long life
The snake plant was selected as the Plant of the Year for all the reasons listed above, but it also didn’t hurt that 2025 is the Year of the Snake — a once-in-every-12-years occurrence in the Chinese zodiac. That, too, was a contributing factor in its selection, Palomares says.
“We wanted to lean into that — it was a sign to be sure,” he says. “It’s nice that we’re able to incorporate some cultural elements into our Plant of the Year.”
The snake plant has further significance in Chinese culture in that it is often given as a wedding or housewarming gift, with the hope that it carries positive vibes with it into the recipient’s home.
“The snake plant is believed to bring good fortune, long life, good health and growth,” Palomares says. “It’s wonderful to think about this as we start the new year and set that intention for yourself and your loved ones, too.”
How to charm your snake plant
To be sure, snake plants are super hardy and require very little upkeep to ensure that they stay healthy, Cochran says.
In fact, since they store water in their leaves, snake plants only need to be watered once every two weeks, and not until the soil is dry.
“Your snake plant will show you if it’s getting too thirsty because the tips of the leaves will turn brown,” Cochran says. “If that happens, just change your watering habit.”
That said, aim to give a 3-foot-tall snake plant 1½ cups of water per week. Also, once a week, bring your plant outside, hose it down, drain it, and bring it back inside, if possible.
Do know that you can over water a snake plant. You’ll know you’ve done this if the leaves are bent or drooping.
Keep in mind that while snake plants don’t need a ton of light, they do require some, so try placing them by a window or, even better, in a sun-drenched room. You’ll know your snake plant is too cold if the leaves turn yellow.
“A snake plant does well in high and low light,” Cochran says. “But what tends to happen is that the higher the light available to the plant, the more color will appear on the leaves.”
Making a statement
Even though snake plants have a lengthy history, they also have a modern look that’s just right for current trends in home décor, Palomares says.
“A gorgeous tall snake plant will look perfect in your living room — it’s so striking,” he says. “You want to celebrate your snake plant and show it off.”
Ultimately, snake plants are a high visual-impact plant, Palomares says.
“Snake plants can make a huge statement in your home,” he says. “And being able to set a visual representation of those good intentions is what makes this plant so wonderful as well.”
When you gift someone a snake plant, Palomares says, you’re saying just as much about the recipient as you are about the giver.
“We want to help people connect with the important people in their lives and have more meaningful relationships with those people,” Palomares says. “By sending a snake plant to someone you love, you’re sending a piece of yourself.”
AUTHOR
Lambeth Hochwald is a New York City-based journalist who specializes in trends, lifestyle stories, and issues of importance to women.
