Can you help me identify this succulent?

by Elizabeth
(Longmeadow, MA)

My plant has thick, fleshy, oblong shaped leaves that are dark green on the outer leaves and get lighter as the leaves get closer to the middle of the plant. It has a short, thick stem with two or three tiny stems branching off. It is a relatively short plant, the leaves are maybe an inch and a half to two inches.


Drought Smart Plants reply:
Hi Elizabeth, I'm not totally sure about your plant, it's hard to see in the small picture, but there are two possibilities; Haworthia, and Echeveria. There are many, many different species and varieties in both those genera, so pinning down which one it is will be tough.

I'm thinking that the reason the inner new leaves are paler, first of all, is that they're new, and don't take on their full colour until they are fully expanded.

The other thing could be that it indicates that it needs more light. Both of the types of plants I link to above need fairly bright light, the Echeveria especially. I recommend a grow light, if you can't give it bright enough natural light from a south or east window.

Happy Succulent Growing!
Jacki


See also these pages for more interesting and useful information:

Succulent Care

How to Grow Echeveria

Grow Lights