Learn all about the St. George Sword!

The sword of St. George has a strong presence in our daily Brazilian life, you may have seen it displayed in some house or streets of your neighborhood. It is also known as Sword of Ogum and its shape refers to its ability to protect.

Its properties are what makes it appreciated by everyone, having a plant like this in your home will allow you to have cleaner air and a more harmonious environment. The sword of St. George is an essential amulet to preserve your motivation and ensure good vibrations in your life.

Learn all about this plant species so popular in the world and understand the reasons for it to have such influence in the following reading!

Understanding more about the Saint George Sword

The sword of St. George has a unique symbolic representation for several cultures, being used not only in decorations, but also in rituals and protective baths. Its history reveals its influence and how it became popular around the world. Continue reading and be surprised!

Origin and scientific name

The St. George Sword is a plant native to tropical Africa, its scientific name is Sanseviera trifasciata and belongs to the genus Sanseviera. It can be commonly known as Tiger Tail, Mother-in-law's Tongue, Tiger Tongue, or Ogum's Sword. Species of this plant have also been found in Asia, closer to New Guinea.

This plant belonging to the Liliaceae family became popular in 1930, for its beauty and resistance, similar to the succulents. Thus, it is widely used in interior decoration, as it does not need much attention or care by its owners, since it is drought resistant and does not need much sunlight.

Types of St. George Sword

There is an incredible variety of this plant, each of them has a function and its types make it extremely useful and versatile to be used in decorations. See the types of St. George sword below:

- St. George's sword (Sansevieria zeylanica)

This is the best known and can also be called the sword of Ogum, having a dark green color, it can reach up to 3 cm in width and 80 cm in length, being very used in religious rituals in the Candomblé and Umbanda ceremonies, because it is associated with the orixá Ogum.

- Santa Barbara Sword (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Also known as Iansã's sword, this plant species is distinguished by its yellowish edges that follow the entire length of the leaf. As the name says, it is also a reference to Afro-Brazilian religions and represents protection against bad weather, lightning and thunder.

- St. George's Lance (Sansevieria cylindrica)

What differentiates the spears of St. George from others are its rounded tips and its cylindrical shape, which makes it look like a spear and its leaves are pointed and closed. In addition, it represents protection against bad energies.

- Mini St. George's Sword (Sansevieria trifasciata var. hahnii)

This species grows to a maximum of 10 cm in height, it is also known as Ogum's star as it is a dwarf plant in relation to the most common species. In Umbanda or Candomblé this plant is used in rituals and baths as it has the ability to ensure protection.

- Broad-leaved St. George's sword (Sansevieria trifasciata var. moonshine)

This species can have two variations, one with softer leaves and another with harder leaves. Besides, both have wide and whitish foliage. Its shade is also diverse, it can go from a silvery tone, going through a dark green to reach an olive green tone.

What's it for?

In native countries that are located in tropical Africa or Asia, it is common to extract from its leaves a fiber that is widely used in the manufacture of moorings and vegetable ropes. In addition, it has a deep relationship with African religions, more specifically with Candomblé and Umbanda.

These religions point out that the sword of St. George has the property of purification and protection of the home, and are often used in spiritual baths and rituals of protection, because it is believed that it is able to ward off negative energies such as envy, the evil eye, discord, and attract prosperity.

Relationship between the plant and Feng Shui

For Feng Shui it is recommended that this plant be used outside your home, because it is believed that its spear shape motivates meanings that induce conflicts and misunderstandings, thus negatively influencing the energies of the home. It is even believed that it is capable of breaking relationships because of its sharp edges.

Relationship between the plant and Ogum

Although it has so many representations, they all point to a common characteristic of protection, which explains its use in external environments by Feng Shui, or in sympathies and protective baths by African religions.

This occurs because of its association to the catholic and warrior saint Saint George of Cappadocia, the figure of his sword serves as a reference to the shape of the plant, that's why it was given this name. Because of this catholic association and because of the religious syncretism in Brazil, the Saint George Sword also became known as Ogum Sword, which is represented by the same catholic saint.

How to use the St. George Sword

There are several reasons for you to have at home a plant like the Sword of St. George. But be aware, it should be placed out of reach of pets and children, since they can not be ingested because their leaves are toxic.

Learn the reasons and how to use the Sword of St. George efficiently in decorating your home in the reading below!

Protection of environments

This is a powerful plant because it symbolizes protection, being widely used in homes for its purification capabilities and to ward off negative energies, the evil eye and envy. Being considered a natural shield against all negative vibrations.

Therefore, it is usually indicated that you place them outside, or at the entrance of your home. This way, the St. George Sword will serve its purpose as a guardian of the home, as well as ward off people with an evil eye.

Thus not allowing the presence of any people who carry with them a negative energy, who bring lies, discord and affect the harmony of your family environment. Protecting you from arguments, negative vibrations and heavy energies.

Personal Amulet

You can also use it as a personal amulet, since it has the ability to fight envy and drive away ill-intentioned people. In this case, you can strategically position it in your home, especially in common areas or near the entrance and back doors of the house.

So, arrange a vase with your leaves in those places, soon you will feel your home more harmonious and purified. Which makes your environment lighter and more pleasant to live in.

Decoration

Its various species and the various types of pots available today allow you to have enormous creative freedom with the St. George Sword in decoration. Its elongated and hard leaves, allow you to bring an imposing to the environment and create a magnificent contrast with other plants.

A good bet is to invest in vases, or plant pots, that have supports of different heights in order to highlight their shape and create a depth to the environment. When aligned this way and accompanied by hanging plants on the ceiling you will make your environment much more harmonious.

For its capacity of purification follows places that are advisable to put the Sword of St. George:

- About the furniture, especially the dwarf species;

- In the bathroom;

- In the office, especially in corners or on some furniture;

- In the dining room, use it on higher supports and alongside different species surrounding the table;

- Entrance to the house;

- Living room.

Invest in placing your plant in higher places if you have children, or pets, so that they are not likely to try to ingest the plant.

Purify the environment

It is one of the most recommended plants for you to have at home because it has the ability to neutralize and absorb harmful elements in the air such as benzene, xylene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde. Keeping this plant inside the house allows the air in your home to become purer and more harmonious thanks to its ability to purify the air.

Combination of St. George Sword with other plants

As it is a plant that requires little care, the fact that it doesn't need to be watered limits the possibility of combinations. The plants that would better associate to the Sword of St. George would be the succulents and the cacti, in this case.

But, you still have the freedom to arrange several plants next to it, remembering to always value the contrast of the environment.

How to grow St. George's Sword

Although it is believed that the St. George Sword is a rustic plant that does not require much care, you should be careful about this thought. For, there are still some rules that need to be followed so that you can keep it alive. Continue reading and learn what these precautions are.

Where to put it?

The first point to be observed is the location, because it is a plant that survives well in the shade, this indicates that we can place it quietly in an environment inside the house, but in relation to the outside it is good to place it in a place that has some shade.

Remember that it supports temperatures ranging from 5 to 30 degrees Celsius, if you want it to grow faster it is recommended that you leave it in the sun in the early morning or late afternoon. Another important point is to keep it in places that make it difficult for your pets to access it, because this is a toxic plant and can be dangerous for your animals.

How to care for it?

Watering should be done when the soil is completely dry and there is no sign of moisture, because if you keep the root moist it will rot, so be careful about watering especially in summer or in drier periods.

Regarding the pots where the sword-of-janes was sown, you must use a universal substrate rich in organic matter, and make a three-quarter layer of sand to facilitate the water drainage. Keep an eye on the water accumulation in the pot.

Another attention that you should have is in relation to fertilizers, they should be used in spring and summer and can be the same used for cacti and succulents. Always follow the package specifications, you should also be alert to the number of shoots or when you observe the roots coming out of the vase, this is a sign to transplant it.

Care

In this case, it is necessary to keep the basic care such as keeping it in a place with little light, watering only when the soil is dry and paying attention to the drainage of the pot in order not to concentrate the humidity.

Price and where to buy

Because it is a very popular plant you will find it in any flower shop or public fairs in your city. Its value can vary depending on the species and location, another way to get it is by taking its seedlings.

The St. George Sword is a great option for your home!

This is one of the most versatile and resistant plants that you can find for your home decoration, the fact that it has a variety of species guarantees an aesthetic freedom that can be applied to any room of your home. Besides, of course, bringing with it a series of benefits.

By using a St. George sword at home, you will not only be using it as a decorative item, but you will also be taking advantage of its air purifying capacity, eliminating impurities and leaving your environment lighter. In addition to ensuring the protection of your environment.

It is these characteristics that make it so unique and special, that make this plant indispensable to have in your home!