book3 600x120 7

by Pulpoco
(Victoria, BC, Canada)

bizarre plant from a botanist 21533922

Bizarre plant from a botanist

I got this from a botanist I worked for some years ago. I have since fallen out of touch with him and would love to know more about this bizarre plant.

Drought Smart Plants reply:

This looks like it could be an Aloe of some type. Generally, they make these long stems only after extreme age, which make the plant a little unwieldy. You can propagate the top rosettes by simply unscrewing them, just like a light bulb and planting them in DRY potting soil.

It would be interesting to find out what kind it is; botanists, horticulturists and other garden professionals tend to have access to very weird and wonderful plants not available to the average person, so it could be some new and different species or hybrid that they collected and grew from seed. How exciting to think that you may be in possession of something brand new. However, coming back down to earth, it could just be a common type that is in every grocery store. It doesn’t hurt to dream…

Jacki


Wanting to learn more about Succulent Plant Propagation?


Comments for bizarre plant from a botanist

Oct 17, 2021

Its Sansevieria ballyi
by: cereusly steve

Its Sansevieria ballyi, an easy to grow species now widespread in cultivation. Its producing off sets on long runners makes the plant well suited for growing in a hanging basket. The allied Sansevieria suffruticosa has its leaves in a fan, not spiralled.


Jul 12, 2014

Distant Aloe relative
by: ButchPansy

It’s actually a Sansevieria, possibly S suffruticosa. They’re succulent perennials from Africa, usually growing in the shade of shrubs. The most familiar one is commonly called the Snake Plant, or Mother-in-law’s Tongue. There are dozens of species. Most make great houseplants.