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Until 2017, the plant was known under the synonym Sansevieria trifasciata. The former genus Sansevieria is now included in the genus Dracaena on the basis of molecular phylogenetic studies. It is often kept as a houseplant because it is non-demanding, and it can survive with very little water and sun. The names mother-in-law's tongue, Saint George's sword and snake plant come from the shape and sharp margins of its leaves, which resemble snakes. It is also called viper's bowstring hemp because it is one of the sources for plant fibers used to make bowstrings.

It is an evergreen perennial plant forming dense strands, spreading by way of its creeping rhizome. Its stiff leaves grow vertically from a basal rosette. Mature leaves are dark green with light gray-green cross-banding and usually range from 70-90 centimetres long and 5-6 centimetres wide. Its flowers vary from greenish white to cream-colored and have a sticky texture. Getting the plant to bloom outside its natural environment is difficult.

The plant exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide using crassulacean acid metabolism, which allows it to withstand drought. Its stomata, the microscopic pores used to exchange gases, are opened only at night to prevent water from escaping via evaporation in the hot sun. Nighttime absorption of carbon dioxide purportedly makes sansevierias especially suitable bedroom plants.

Like other members of its genus, it yields bowstring hemp, a strong plant fiber once used to make bowstrings. It is now used predominantly as an ornamental plant, outdoors in warmer climates and indoors as a houseplant in cooler climates. It is popular as a houseplant because it is tolerant of low light levels and irregular watering. During winter it needs only one watering every few months. It will rot easily if overwatered. The 1989 NASA Clean Air Study tested the variegated snake plant. It has the potential to filter indoor air, removing four of the five main toxins involved in sick building syndrome, but its rate of filtration is too slow for practical indoor use. The plant contains saponins, which are mildly toxic to dogs and cats and can lead to gastrointestinal upset if consumed. In South Africa, it is used to treat ear infections.

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