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mother in laws tongue outside

Dreaming of bold, architectural foliage in your outdoor garden? Mother in Laws Tongue, also known as Sansevieria or Snake Plant, is a striking choice. While often seen as an indoor staple, growing mother in laws tongue outside is perfectly possible in many parts of New Zealand. With its upright, sword-shaped leaves and minimal care requirements, this versatile plant thrives in pots, containers, and garden beds, adding drama and structure to patios, courtyards, and low-maintenance gardens.

Selenicereus undatus (White Dragon Fruit) fruit with a white centre.

Selenicereus undatus

Selenicereus undatus (White Dragon Fruit) is a highly rewarding climbing cactus grown for its large, sweet, white fleshed fruit and impressive tropical appearance. This fast growing variety thrives in warm parts of New Zealand, producing spectacular night blooming flowers followed by delicious fruit. Its striking trailing stems make it ideal for growing on trellises, pergolas, and poles. This variety is perfect for gardeners seeking an exotic, productive, and visually impressive fruiting plant.

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type: Subtropical Fruit
Height: 2.00 m
Spread: 2.00 m
Flowering time: Spring, Summer
Garden uses: Living areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Tropical
Sansevieria 'Black Coral' plants growing in pots.

Sansevieria Black Coral

Sansevieria Black Coral is a variety of the commonly known, Variegated Snake Plant or Mother in Law’s Tongue, and is a very popular indoor plant. It features upright and fleshy leaves that are striped with green and silver bands. The spear shaped leaves arise from the base of this clump growing plant. It grows slowly to eventually reach 1 m tall and 50 cm wide but often grows to about 45 cm tall and 20 cm wide in a container. Sansevieria Black Coral makes for a fabulous indoor plant and is well suited to providing colour and texture to offices and foyers.

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type: Indoor Plants
Height: 45 cm
Spread: 20 cm
Flowering time: Spring
Tolerances: Extended dry periods, Hardy
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Pool areas
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Mediterranean, Modern
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Selenicereus undatus

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Can You Grow Mother in Laws Tongue Outside in New Zealand?

Mother in Laws Tongue outside fares well in locations with mild winters and no frost. Since Sansevieria originally hails from subtropical regions, it appreciates warmth, bright indirect light, and well-draining soil. In Northern New Zealand, the plant can be grown outdoors year-round, while in cooler regions, it’s best treated as a patio plant or brought indoors during winter. In frost-free gardens, it creates lush, evergreen pockets and is a favourite for contemporary landscaping.

Outdoor Care and Growing Tips

To grow mother in laws tongue outside, choose a sheltered spot with filtered sunlight or partial shade. Direct sun can bleach leaves, so protected locations are ideal. These hardy plants tolerate drought once established, requiring only occasional watering in dry spells—perfect for busy gardeners.

Ensure soil is free-draining, as waterlogged roots can lead to rot. Sandy or gritty mixes work well, especially in pots. Mulch in spring to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Sansevieria rarely needs fertiliser, but a light feed with slow-release granules helps boost summer growth.

Design Ideas Using Mother in Laws Tongue Outside

Mother in Laws Tongue brings structural beauty to outdoor spaces, pairing well with other architectural plants like succulents and palms. Try mixing varieties such as Sansevieria 'Laurentii' (Mother In Laws Tongue) with its golden edges, or striking Sansevieria Black Coral. For a softer look, the lush Sansevieria Green (Serpent Plant) works wonders in mixed borders or contemporary pots.

These plants make excellent low-maintenance hedges, traffic barriers, or accent pieces in rock gardens. For even more variety in your succulent garden, consider combining Sansevieria with unique foliage like Gasteria bicolour (Lawyers Tongue), which shares a similarly hardy temperament.

Pest and Frost Protection

Mother in Laws Tongue outside is generally pest-free, but keep an eye out for mealybugs in summer. If frost threatens, move containers indoors or cover garden plants with frost cloth. In colder climates, growing in pots is a smart solution—simply relocate them during winter months.

Varieties to Try Outdoors

Our nursery offers a range of Sansevieria to suit all outdoor styles. Explore the classic Sansevieria trifasciata (Mother In Law's Tongue) for timeless elegance, or experiment with colourful cultivars and robust green forms. Every variety delivers hardiness, bold form, and garden versatility.

Ready to transform your outdoor space? Plant mother in laws tongue outside for easy-care beauty and enduring structure—perfect for Kiwi gardens of all shapes and sizes.


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Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

–The Plant Company

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