I received this plant at the fall roundup in Arlington (I believe it was in a plastic bag). It is doing great and is putting on a lot of new branches, but I have no idea what it is. Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks!
Dennis
Plant identification needed!
Old fashioned green wandering jew. Break pieces off, plant em anywhere, water a little you'll have a ton of them. I plant mine in the ground. They freeze down every winter and spread like wildfire again every summer. You can't hardly kill them, LOL! You can mow them down with the lawnmower and they will come back. So will the purple variety. Alot of people use them like groundcover.
Sorry I don't know the correct botanical name for it Dennis. Perhaps someone else can tell you that.
This message was edited Jan 13, 2009 9:41 PM
Great DG article here -
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1533/?utm_source=nl_2008-09-22&utm_medium=email
I have the purple form growing in an out-of-the-way spot that gets no extra water, but it endures anyway. Pretty pink blossoms.
After reading that article, I think I will avoid planting it in the yard. Has anyone grown it as a houseplant? Maybe in a hanging basket?
Dennis
Hanging baskets are a good choice, but I don't think it is terribly invasive. Maybe because mine gets no extra water it doesn't move much, but I haven't had more than a couple of stragglers over the last several years - easily pulled up.
Dennis, I'll tell you how I do it. I have an old decorative bath sink sunk down flush into the yard, and another tub done the same way. I plant it in the tub and other pots (be sure and break pieces off and stick them in the soil all over too) and let them take off. The container will do it's job and contain them in one spot and they are absolutely gorgeous. I have purple and the green like you do.
I actually got them in the "leftover" pile from an RU and they were in a hanging basket. They were spindly and pitiful looking. In an outdoor container or pot (leave em out there all year and let them die down) they are full and lush. In the spring they will grow back better each year and the little purple blooms are so pretty. Maybe you have an old #9 washtub, or other large pot you can fill with soil and plant them? You won't regret putting them outdoors. I just don't think they thrive well as a house plant.
Dennis ~ that is a Callisia fragrans. http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/viewentry/111264/ Yes, it will do well in a hanging basket and looks rather like a large spider plant. It takes on a purple hue when in sunlight. Yours is also stretching taller for more light. The little plants root easily so if it receives good moisture and fertilizer, it will put on babies, root and spread. Even in a hanging basket, plants can break off and root in ground but are easy to pluck out of ground. The blooms are not grand but fragrant. I've not tried mine in ground so no advice there as to cold hardy.
Thanks, Podster. It definitely looks more like that than Wandering Jew. I'll put it out in a larger container in the spring and see how I like it.
Dennis
Actually wandering jew is another nickname for it. Pretty plant ~ it will do well for you and you will have some to share.
Since you guys are so good at this, I have one last RU plant I haven't identified. It is an interesting succulent with really neat leaves.
Dennis
Dennis ~ I am not sure of the cultivar but it is Kalanchoe ~ perhaps the commonly named Mother of Thousands?
It may be this one - Kalanchoe laetivirens (Bryophyllum 'Crenatodaigremontianuma')
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/104710/
This photo shows the distinctive ear-shaped lobes at the leaf bases.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/99992/
It usually blooms in late January or February. Mine is known as 'Big Momma' or 'Big Mama'.
I think htop has it! Thanks, again. You all are GOOD! :)