Snake plant leaves turning yellow: 9 causes and solutions

There’s a reason snake plants are my favorite houseplant. First, they have attractive upright foliage in a range of colors and variegations. Secondly, they’re super easy to grow, tolerating most light conditions and thriving on neglect. That said, occasionally you may notice snake plant leaves turning yellow. Don’t panic! It’s not easy to kill a snake plant. You just need to figure out the issue. Below I share nine reasons a snake plant’s leaves may turn yellow and how to fix them.

Tropical plants native to parts of Africa, snake plants are known botanically as Dracaena trifasciata. For years, they were classified as Sansevieria trifasciata, but that recently changed. When shopping for this popular houseplant, most gardeners ask for snake plant or call it by its other common name, mother-in-law’s tongue. These succulent plants have stiff upright foliage that is often variegated with horizontal stripes or bands of gold, light green, or gray. The leaf edges may also be edged in light green or gold, depending on the type.

There are many species and cultivars of snake plants with some growing compact and others reaching heights of 6 feet or more. Most snake plants have the characteristic flat pointed leaves, but some have unique tubular foliage. I have over a dozen snake plants in my collection and find them all carefree indoor plants.

As noted above, snake plants have a well-earned reputation for ease of cultivation and resilience, but from time to time you may notice your snake plant leaves turning yellow. Below I explore 9 reasons for this and offer tips on how to fix the issue.