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by Anya McConnell
(Ontario, Canada)

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Unknown cactus

This plant has rose coloured leaves with stripes running along the length of the leaves.

The edges are wavy and have very short spikes. The plant is kind of flat with the leaves growing sideways rather than upright.

Its growth habit is sort of like a rosette. It started to grow a bud in the centre, but is now shriveling up. New shoots are growing at the base of some of the upper leaves. I bought this plant at a garden centre.

It is labeled as a cactus, but has no species identifier. I would like to identity this plant so I can properly care for it. Thanks.

Comments for Cryptanthus

Aug 01, 2017
Star
by: Jacki

This is Cryptanthus, or Earth Star. The one you have is Cryptanthus bivitatus, of which there are a lot of different sub species and varieties.

They actually prefer a bit more humid atmosphere, making them perfect for growing in terrariums.

It will eventually flower, with the odd looking white flowers emerging from the very center of it, where the leaves emerge.

Green plant with white stripes on the outer side

by Tammy
(Piqua ohio united states)

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Green long leaves with what appears to be white or pink strip on the outerside and kind of reminds me of a star at first glance

Comments for Green plant with white stripes on the outer side

Jul 12, 2012
I think it’s a Moses Plant
by: Anonymous

It looks like a Moses Plant to me. Info here –

Moses in the Cradle

May 06, 2017
Found it!
by: Jacki

More here; Cryptanthus
‘Red Star’
.

White leaves with green stripes

by Eric
(Wartburg, TN)


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I picked up a plant at a grocery store that was only labeled as a succulent. It has a jade tree, along with this other plant which I can’t find any information on. It is about 1″ tall and has leaves appr. 2″ long. The leaves are an off white and have green stripes running up the middle along their width. I would like any info that you could give me about this plant. Thanks.

Drought Smart Plants reply:

Hi Eric, just off the top of my head, I think you have an Agave, but what a beauty! There are many different kinds, more every year as people see them and get the bug to collect them and display them on patios and decks. Many of them stay quite small, and some grow into huge tree like structures once they go into flowering mode, anywhere from 10 to 20 years.

Once they bloom, the rosette will die, but in most cases, they form many baby pups around the base to take over.

If you look closely at the tips of the leaves, it’s pretty evident that the grower has cut off the incredibly sharp thorn that grows out of the tip of each leaf. You’ll realize once the plant grows a bit more why they do this, as they’re wickedly sharp.

See the page on succulent care for more details about how to look after this lovely (but dangerous!) plant.

Jacki

Comments for White leaves with green stripes

Apr 19, 2012
Cryptanthus
by: Ronaele

This little gem is a Cryptanthus, commonly called star plant.