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Sanseviera aethiopica - Thunb.

Common Name Bowstring Hemp
Family Agavaceae
USDA hardiness 9-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known
Range Tropical Africa.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Sanseviera aethiopica Bowstring Hemp


Sanseviera aethiopica Bowstring Hemp

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Sanseviera aethiopica is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower in July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

S. zeylanica. non Willd.

Plant Habitats

 South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Drink

The rhizome is a source of water[177]. This is presumably of some use in the arid areas of its native range, but of rather limited benefit in Britain[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fibre

A high quality fibre is obtained from the leaves. It is used for making sails and paper[1, 42, 46, 57].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a very sunny position in a very well-drained sandy gritty loam[42] and a pH between 6 and 7[200]. This species is not very frost hardy, though it can succeed outdoors in the mildest parts of the country if it is given a selected sunny position[42]. Plants must be kept dry after they have flowered[42]. There is a lot of confusion between this species, S. roxburghiana. Schult. from India and S. zeylanica. (L.)Willd. from Sri Lanka[200]. It is most likely that they all have similar uses, though none of them are likely to be very hardy in Britain.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a warm greenhouse in April. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least a couple of years in a greenhouse before trying any of them outdoors. Division of suckers as growth commences in the spring. Leaf-cuttings, 7cm long placed in sand in a frame[1]. The leaf is cut into sections, the cut surfaces allowed to dry for a few hours, and the sections then placed in pots in a warm light frame, but with shelter from direct sunlight. Rooting and new growth should take place within a month.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

Coming Soon

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Thunb.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

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Subject : Sanseviera aethiopica  
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