Plantidote of the Day 2011-04-22
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Sedum morganianum
Burro tail, donkey tail
The sedum family of succulents is big and diverse, known mostly for their plump leaves and unusual shapes. Many are easy to propagate. Just break off a stem, stick it in some soil and get out of the way.
Most sedums produce flowers at some point, but they're just frosting on the cake. The burro tail is a good example. Those little green seed-like things in the background in the photo above are the leaves. They grow in long, ropey strands, kind of like dreadlocks, and spill over the edges of most containers. That's why they're usually grown in hanging baskets that show off the plant's unusual structure. Blooms are rare, but -- lucky you! -- this one is starting to flower, just in time to close out Pretty in Pink week. Happy Weekend!
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Readers, please send twig (twig4now@gmail.com) images and stories for the ongoing Plantidote of the Day series. In exchange, you'll win undying fame in the form of a hat tip! Plants growing in your garden, your house, or neighbor's yard, plants from the forest or farmers' market, plants you preserved, plants you prepared (wine; cider; tea; dried beans), plants you harvested (grains; chanterelles), plants you picked (flowers), plants you dried (herbs), plants you covet or hope to grow someday. Herbal remedies, propagation tips, new varieties, etc.. And if you can, include some solid detail about the plant, too -- a story, the genus and species, or where you got the seeds, or the recipe, or your grandmother gave it to you. Or challenge us with a "Name That Plant" mystery entry ... And please feel free to add corrections and additional information in the comments.
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Comments
Succulents: The new orchid
A very long one is an accomplishment because the stems can break. While delivering newspapers in my youth, I tossed a paper and broke off part of a customer's three-foot long burro tail. I still remember the look on his face and the lecture I received.
Exactly! The stems break and if you even look at them funny
the leaves fall off. I should have mentioned that, because transplanting them is a nightmare. Unless there's a secret to doing it that I don't know about.