Odd housemates
|April 4, 2014|
I love odd plants.
I’ve posted about my various odd housemates, of the vegetable variety, from time to time.
Now another long-time inhabitant of a sunny window has sprouted some peculiar and quite unexpected blossoms.
Who’d have guessed that something like this—
would sprout into this—
Life is full of such delightful surprises.
(And in case you’re wondering, no, I have no idea what this fellow’s name is. Anyone?)
Well, at first I thought it was mother-in-law tongue, but now I’m not so sure! Pretty, though!
I think you are riight ,alsocalled sensevarius
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Even more pleased with my botanical achievement, now! One good thing about this plant is that it is extremely hardy. In fact, you can’t kill it with a hammer (probably why I know it so well).
I’m with Merrily. If it’s anything like the plants we had when I was growing up (in Hertfordshire) those flowers will drip sticky stuff, and the scent will be amazing.
Looks like it is — http://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/mother-in-laws-tongue.html — I’ve had them bloom before but not lately.
You mean I was right? It really is mother-in-law’s tongue? I’m chuffed, I hardly ever get plants right! (I think it’s also called sanseveria…)
I’d say it’s definitely a Sansevieria, although it could be Singularis, Cylindrica, Bacularis, or Suffriticosa. Personally I like the name “Elephant’s toothpick.”
Googling the genus comes up with some highly imaginative things to do with tall round leaves. Not sure I’d want a braided one in my window, but better than those with sprightly flowers impaled on the tips…
I have a picture from Africa University in Zimbabwe where they have beds of them around trees — just as landscaping! Had to do the tourist thing and take a picture since you can’t do that in Indiana!!
It looks like my “Mother-in-law Tongue”, aka “Snake plant”. Mine stays on the front porch during the Spring and Summer, and last year it bloomed, too, but the blossoms weren’t like your plant, as they were tiny.
I adore the turtle planter!
I have one of those, mother-in-law’s tongue or sansevieria. It’s bloomed once, and when it did, I thought some kind of weed had gotten into it while it was outside, so I tried to pull the blooming part out. Now that I know it blooms and would treat it better, it hasn’t bloomed anymore.
Looks like a snake plant, I have one I’ve had for probably at least 20 yrs. It blooms every summer when I put it out on the porch! Love the turtle planter 🙂
Definitely a mother-in-law’s tongue! I have one that’s been in the family for… maybe 50 years? My mother inherited from her mother-in-law some 30 years ago, and it’s blooming right now – must be the season for it. Gives off a lovely sweet smell at night!
I’ve also heard them called sword plants. I have 40-some-odd year old that flowered nearly 30 years ago and has never done it again. Must have been a traumatic experience.
Actually most succulents and cacti varieties like dormant periods and or periods of drought. Just like they would have in their native habitat. Once you established their zones and preferences on light periods. You can be more likely to coax it to flower more often.