Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
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Asparagaceae
Dracaena zebra (Sansevieria trifasciata 'Metallica')
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
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Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
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Dracaena zebra (Sansevieria trifasciata 'Metallica')
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when ~90–100% dry
Substrate
Airy + gritty • Fast-draining • Mineral-leaning • Medium
Temperature
Ideal: 18–27 °C • Avoid below: 10 °C
Humidity
Normal 40–50 %
Growth habit
Upright rosette-forming succulent perennial.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Slow
Max size indoors
Max. height: 90 cm • Max. spread: 30 cm
Toxicity & safety
Toxic
Origin & habitat
Cultivar of Dracaena trifasciata; species native from southern Nigeria to central Africa and Tanzania
Outdoor growing
Outside from 15 °C · rain-sheltered spot
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
- Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
- Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
- Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.
- Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
- Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: expected pace under suitable indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
- Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.
Dracaena zebra
Dracaena zebra has long tapering leaves with grey, green and silver striping. The leaves are paler than most dark green snake plants, so dust, water spots and old marks show more clearly on the surface.
It grows best in a pot close to its root size, with a mix that drains well after watering. Leaves rise from below the substrate and form an upright clump.
Silver-grey striping on long tapering leaves
- Leaf colour: Grey, silver and green tones
- Leaf shape: Long, tapering upright leaves
- Growth base: New leaves emerge from a rhizome
- Leaf surface: Pale leaves show marks more clearly
- Flowering: Possible on older plants, but uncommon indoors
Dracaena zebra and the Metallica name
Dracaena zebra is still often seen under the older name Sansevieria metallica, which explains why this plant may be sold under Metallica labels. It is native from Malawi to KwaZulu-Natal and grows in seasonally dry tropical habitats. The long leaves store water, so the mix should dry well between waterings. The older name metallica refers to the grey-silver leaf surface, while the accepted name Dracaena zebra matches the striped look of the leaves.
Silver leaves and dry roots
- Light: Give it bright indirect light
- Watering: Let the potting mix dry before watering
- Substrate: Use a free-draining mix
- Pot choice: A pot close to the root size helps the mix dry evenly
- Temperature: Keep warm and away from cold drafts
- Humidity: Normal room air is enough
- Feeding: Feed lightly during active growth
- Repotting: Repot when the plant has filled the pot or the mix has broken down
- Propagation: Divide rooted sections
Marks and root-zone stress
- Soft base: Wet mix around the rhizome is the usual cause
- Wrinkled leaves: Check dryness first, then root health
- Brown tips: Old damage or mineral buildup often shows here
- Dull surface: Dust and water spots are more visible on pale leaves
- Weak growth: Low light or a mix that holds moisture for too long can slow the plant
- Pests: Check around the base
Safety around pets and children
Keep Dracaena zebra away from pets and small children. Snake plant tissue can upset the stomach if eaten.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.
FAQs about Dracaena trifasciata 'Metallica'
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