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Cacti & Succulents

A cool Australian succulent plant.

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

15 years ago

Here's Maireana sedifolia, a succulent shrub from Australia. It can take a little water without rotting. At the base of the plant when the stems get bare, they are a pale pastel blue, like the color of a 50's Ford Thunderbird. It is about 3'x3' so far.

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Comments (7)

georgew79
15 years ago
Hi, that is a very Cool succulent indeed, nice color contrass too, with the other back ground plants. Has it bloomed for you yet? Here in Missouri its real tough to grow any cactus or succulent out doors.
George W. Z5-6 Mo.
dufflebag2002
15 years ago
It's beautiful, how fast does it spread? I think you have a winner. Would it do well in our deserts? in our South West States.
Those of you who haven't been to Australia make plans to go there when you can. I loved it, Australia has a treasury in their people they are their hidden gold mine. They are wonderful, friendly, helpful, darnright nice. Norma
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Here's a little update: I came in contact with one of the people in charge of the product range for the actual chain of stores in which I saw this plant. After some mailing back and forth a plant, that at least have some significant similarities to the one I'm trying to remember, popped up. The plant in particular is called Wollemia nobilis. It does however not resemble the plant I'm trying to find in every aspect. Most importanly the opposite phyllotaxy. The absolute PERFECT order the leaves/branches of the plant I saw, was arranged in. Hopefully this will send someone on the right path of finding the plant I'm thinking of. I'm finding it somewhat unlikely that someone trimmed a specimen of the above plant to look like what I'm trying to describe. The only conclusion I can think of has to be it being another species, but very similar. Regards./ Johnny
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wanda
15 years ago
Pearlbush is a succulent? I've seen this plant before and it's a real beauty (looks great in your setting, too!), but I never thought of it as a succulent.

wanda
puglvr1
15 years ago
That is really cool...I will have to do some research and see if that will grow in FL?

Thanks for posting those great pics...
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
Original Author
15 years ago
The leaves are succulent, yes. The stems are woody. It needs dry, dry, dry, dry. It is 2 years now in that spot. It has not bloomed--the flowers are described as "insignificant". I first saw it at the Quail Botanical Garden near San Diego and just had to have one. Luckily I saw three for sale about a year later and bought them all. I haven't seen it for sale since.
bahia
15 years ago
I wouldn't have classified this as a succulent, either, but it is definitely a cool looking plant that is not that common. The same species is available thru some wholesale nurseries such as San Marcos Growers out of Santa Barbara, so you can find it outside of botanic garden sales. I've seen it growing in full sun, well drained and low water gardens here in the San Francisco Bay Area, also, but it doesn't tend to be long lived unless it has perfect drainage, and full sun. Tip pinching to renew it and keep it from getting rangy or too woody also helps, as does a pebble mulch to keep the basal stems drier in winter.
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
Original Author
15 years ago
Well the drainage is excellent there, sandy, south facing slope so I hope I can keep it going a while until the Dasylirion longissimum behind it grows larger. San Marcos Growers was where it came from. They sell a lot of interesting plants.

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