Dracaena pethera aka Star Sansevieria

Dracaena pethera is in the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. Kew gives its native range as Gabon to Tanzania and southern tropical Africa. It grows in warm tropical lands with a dry season. Chicago Botanic Garden describes a plant from Zanzibar in tropical East Africa. There, it goes by the name Kirk sansevieria. Kew calls it a rhizomatous geophyte. It has a rhizome, a stem that grows below ground. Chicago calls it a semi-succulent perennial: a somewhat fleshy plant that lives for years. It grows upright.

The plant forms a clump, not a woody crown. In gardens, it tends to reach about 3 feet [0.91 metres] tall. Chicago Botanic Garden says some clumps reach 4 feet [1.22 metres]. Dark green leaves bear patches of a lighter green. Their edges have a red tint and a wavy shape. These marks and waves give the clump much of its appeal. The account gives no width for a full-grown plant. It gives no size for the leaves, either.

White flowers form round groups that rise above the leaves. A stout flower stalk, or inflorescence, holds them. It grows from the centre of the plant. Chicago Botanic Garden gives November to December as the bloom period. Its account links good bloom with bright light. It also says the plant draws birds and butterflies. It does not say that these guests act as pollinators. The species account gives no facts about fruit or seeds.

The plant copes with low light but grows best in bright light. It can cope with full sun, too. Chicago Botanic Garden lists full sun and partial shade. Give little water, and keep the soil dry between waterings. The plant can go for months without more water. For plants grown outside, the source says to stop watering as winter turns cold. It reports that the plant can stand cold down to 30–32°F [−1–0°C]. It lists USDA hardiness zones 9–12.

Chicago Botanic Garden lists uses in beds and borders. It also lists use as a specimen plant, grown to stand out. The source records that the plant resists deer. Its upright clump and marked leaves add interest without blooms. The sources give no pest or disease details for this species. They give no evidence of parts to eat or uses as medicine. They do not confirm whether it is toxic to pets or humans. This lack of facts does not mean it is safe.