Those are two of my favorites!!! 'Coppertone' can't be beat for the unique color. I love the variegated masonianas. Variable and on my top favorite list too. , You can probably find several photos of each on this forum if you do a search. What are you trading?

You might want to check what they have in stock at Bob Smoley's. He sent out a newsletter in February that he has stage 4 colon cancer and they were downsizing.

This is my masoniana variegated from Bob Smoley. I've only had it since Oct. and it only has one leaf. I know they can have different variegation.

Coppertone' will produce many leaves from one stolen. Masoniana on the Sansevieria guineensis family will produce one to max. of 3 leaves per stolen. Rarely do you find a forth leaf. On masoniana variegate, no two leaves will be alike. Some thing I find exciting. below is mine.

I don't have a Kirkii coppertone -- by choice. I love the plant, and have seen two of them where I live (a local grower) that were mature plants and worth the money that the shop was asking ($25 and $35). They were beautiful -- but the two I saw were virtually growing all over the place…big, long leaves in every direction. I passed on both of them because, although I like the look of the plant, I don't have a huge amount of space and these plants appeared to me to "need their freedom" to grow. That may be a consideration for you.

I have two Coppertones, and the pink/green sponged look with lasagna edges distinguishes it from any other Sans I have - true that there are many leaves fanning out so my two are more horizontal than vertical plants. At The Huntington is what looks to me to be S. kirkii in the ground inside the Conservatory and it is chest high at least. But you know, just divide it to keep the size you like and give the rest away or sell them to support further acquisitions....

Here's my Coppertone and a couple of shots of Masoniana Variegated.

Woodnative: I only have the more common (compare to these two) species - Bentel Sensation, Gold Flame, Gold Hannii and Simplex.

akrrm: that's a nice Masoniana Variegata you got there.

stush: the variegation on your Masoniana is more white than the one akrrm got from Bob Smoley, is it because its age or exposed to more sun. 'Cause the pics on his web site also shows two different color (one yellow one is white) I thought they are different varieties?

the color of your coppertone is so....vivid.

robin: thanks for the tip. Wow, I wish we have nurseries around here carry this kind of hard to find sans. I would grab one in a heartbit for that price.

next obsession: you have ...what?...two? I like the way you are thinking. (just divide it to keep the size you like ) Do you run out of space now and can we be friend?

barbmock: nice Sans, the coppertone looks big. what is the Sans behind the masoniana in the last picture? Is that Philo Xanadu under it. I have the same plant as a souvenir from our last trip to Florida.

Looking at the pictures, you just convinced me that I NEED these two Sans. thanks a lot :)

and message me if you want to trade or sell.

Again, thanks for the pictures. I love look at those specimen pictures. Maybe we should have a post devote to different Sans so that people can post their Sans' picture to it? That would be awesome.

Rockdale,

the tall one is Lillian True. And you are right, Xanadu down below. Coppertone takes on that rich copper color when it gets more sun. After a winter inside, it gets more green.

Just a guess, I believe that the more sun Masoniana gets the more white/yellow it develops. What do you think?

I think the new leaves have the yellow color, as they mature, they have more green and white. There may very well be a different variety that keeps the yellow color.

Stush, I was told there were only about 11 different variations of variegated masoniana. It doesn't mutate its variegation like other Sans. I have no reason to disbelieve this. I'll post a picture tomorrow of my variegated masoniana. I need to find it.

With no two leaves being exactly alike, I tend to believe that it is unstable and could produce different kinds of coloring.

My order from Bob Smoley arrived. Love the Masoniana Variegata. But the coppertone does not look like coppertone to me? The color is too green and size is much longer than the pictures I saw online? what do you guys think?

Masoniana Variegata:

Coppertone

And somehow I ordered other non-sans plants too. Was looking for these 2 Sans only...because I am in the process of reducing my plants collection, already having a hard time to get rid of current ones -- what was I thinking ?. :)

AGAVE VICTORIA REGINA COMPACTA

GASTERIA GRACILIS VARIEGATED

HAWORTHIA CYMBIFORMIS VARIEGATED (do not see any variegation on the plants)

ZAMIA FURFURACEA (concerned about the yellow leaves)

Nice non-sans plants - I envy you. Gasteria are great little (or big, some of them) plants - they have pretty coral or orangey-yellow tubular/bell flowers on wiry scapes that hummingbirds love, very easy to keep I find. The agave is a lucky acquisition too! I don't know much about the other two. As for the Coppertone, I see the darker green lines running the length of the leaf which my two have, it will pink up with light and probably spread as more leaves grow. That masoniana is gorgeous!

Rockdale,

Did Bob send you those plants free. I hope he didn't get orders mixed up. I love the Haworthias and Gasteria/Aloe group and have many different ones. I placed a big order with Bob and waiting for it to come.

Stush

Stush:

NO. I ordered them. what I was trying to say is I "SUPPOSEDLY" should only order the Sans - because that the reason I started this post and placed the order.

Also, I sent an email to Bob Smoley for the 'coppertone' id. He confirmed that it is a straight kirkii. (He said this is all he has at the present, I also looked on his website and I did not find 'coppertone today but it was there the other day I placed my order). I did specify I do not want substitutions so I do not know why they still sent something that I did not ordered. I am kind disappointed for my first order from him - because all I wanted are 'coppertone' and 'mansoniana variagata' (the mansoniana looks good though)

I think I know where a small Coppertone can be had, I wonder if it can be stuffed into a flat rate USPS box....

Next O,

Yes it can but regular Priority Mail is a little cheaper for same size box. Boxes are free at the post office. They look the same but you have to read them.

I know. I ordered from him because of his reputation I read from GW. I also read that if he subs he will put a better plant. But I only want 'coppertone' and 'Masoniana Variegata' that's why I checked do not substitute on my order. I never thought this would happen.

Mr. Bob Smoley says in the email he did not fill the order because he is disable - so I think he must have a helper?

Stush, thanks for thinking about me for the 'coppertone', it is very nice of you.

Next O. thanks for the offer. I tried to PM you but I could not even I followed you? Did you enable other people to send you message in you profile?

The hunting for 'coppertine' continues...

OK, fixed the messaging. Thanks Stush re: mail rates (you would know!). The big ones are $29, the small ones I'll have to check, under $15, many of the small size are $11 if I remember correctly. Here's a pic of one of mine.

Unfortunately the pink doesn't show as well as the plant is actually colored - it's pink and a pale gray-green and dark green - it looks like some mid-century sponged effect on Puerto Rican ceramics or somesuch - I adore this variety! PR pottery

Nice plants all of them!!!

Rockdale, Bob Smoley has stage 4 colon cancer, they are downsizing and his wife is learning the business (according to his newsletter).

Great thread, thanks to everyone for all the beautiful pics.

Stush, that Coppertone of yours has the best color of any I've ever seen. Was it in full sun to get this intense coloration??

Rockdale, I only have a few very small Coppertones. If you can't find a plant but someone can share a leaf or two, they will propagate true from leaf cuttings. Unfortunately it will take a couple of years to get a decent plant.

Just a thought regarding the kirkii... I don't have kirkii species and have never owned one. If you don't want it, I'd love to have it. I would be glad to pay you whatever Smoley charged for it as a sub for Coppertone, and I'll reimburse your postage to mail it. Same thing for the variegated gasteria and haworthias if they're not favorites.

The Zamia furfuracea is one tough plant, it probably only needs watering. If you want to get rid of it, I can take it. It's my favorite of the 'dinosaur food' plants.

Russ, bluesea14808@yahoo.com

The Coppertones are just beautiful. I do have kirkii that has given two offsets I'd be happy to trade in a few months for a small Coppertone if anyone is interested.

k

Akrrm, I heard about Bob Smoley. Just too bad. I have been praying for him. I get some sales adds but not the news letter you got. Some one here knows him very well, I think it's Barb but not too sure of it. I just put a big order in with him and was very happy with it.

Karen, no garenttees but I am going to transplant my coppertone. Just saying.

Russ, I have small offsets of many of my Haworthia collection and Gasteria and Aloe hybrids. Can send you down another box. This time it will be cheaper going first class. Check out the Cactus and Succulents forum. I am going to post my latest purchases.

Stush

Stush, no I don't know Mr. Smoley. Sorry, I don't know who that would be. He has been ill for some time.

Russ:

I am happy to share the Kirkii with you for free. As for the variegated gasteria, haworthias and Zamia furfuracea, I am going to keep them since I ordered them specifically. :)

I have some haworthias attentuta and Gasteria 'Little Warty' to share. I can put them into the same box if you want them. I probably can send out the box in the second half of next week. (Have a pretty busy schedule next week). Talk to you in the email.

Stush:

I like Haworthias too, since they are growing well in my not so good light condition in winter. I had various echeverias but they always get legging, so I am in the process of gifting out them. Would like to see your Haworthia and Gasteria collections.

Next Obsession, I PMed you. Check you message please. (Stush, I PMed you too)

Guess I didn't understand that you ordered the succulents from Smoley. Your extra haworthias and gasterias would be great, but only send the kirkii if you have two, an extra to share.

I have some leftovers of a big succulent collection from years ago, I'll have to make a list since you're interested in them. Other than a jade, no variegates that I can think of though. Haworthia ubomboensis, Gasteria liliputana, quite a few echeveria-types, euphorbias, many others.

Russ

Hey Stush, I'd love to have some haworthias aloes and gasterias from your collection. Please send another box, I'll reimburse (plus extra) for those and the sans you sent.

If you have Silver Queen, can you share an offset, or a leaf? It propagates true so a leaf would be excellent. Like Silver Laurentii, I lost my Silver Queen many years ago and haven't been able to replace. I hated to lose them since they were from Alice Waidhofer, a pioneer sans collector who has now retired her collection. Let me know when you want the Golden Xanadu, I have a nice-sized one I can send, my last extra but I'm hoping my big one will offset some more this summer. And, what else can I send you?

Thanks, Russ

Dear Stush you are more than generous. If there is anything you like let me know, I will gladly pay reimburse for anything.

k

Russ, Sorry, I don't have a Silver Queen. I have Gray Lady.

I tried to post pictures on C&S forum but they shut me down. Too many pictures and I hit the wrong key wiping every thing I typed off. I just gave up and will try again this week. I am ready for the Golden Xanadu. I will take extra precaution with it.

Stush

Hey Stush, not a problem at all in not having Silver Queen. I actually thought you might not have it since it doesn't seem like the kind of sans you like.

Regarding wiping a long email off the face of the earth with an errant keystroke, I've done the same thing and given up just as you did. Very frustrating!!!! That never happened when there was only snail-mail, and I'd go back to those days in a heartbeat if I could. But, the world is in a higher gear now and nobody's smelling the roses like the used to.

I'll have the Xanadu out to you ASAP, I'll let you know when. It's a decent size but far from big, hopefully it will take the trip and transplant in stride. In my experience, tree-type philos (the meconostigmas) DO NOT like their roots messed with and especially bare-rooted and replanted. Xanadu seems to be one of these picky ones.

Russ

Yes Russ, I can attest to that. I though Gray Lady was too similar to Silver Queen that I though not necessary to own both. Maybe I'm wrong. Silver Laurentii would have the best of both worlds. Unfortunate, It darkens with age to a jade coloring.

I have seen all 3 of the above-mentioned at that nursery I frequent - Russ helped me ID Gray Lady and it's distinctive from Silver Queen, I will probably buy a Silver Queen soon for that reason. Gray Lady has many narrow cross-banded (with dark green) leaves, many rosettes (possibly more leaves per rosette although I haven't counted them yet) that splay outwards (vase shape), Silver Queen has leaves the width and vertical growth habit of "zeylanica" trifasciata, with minimal cross-banding from those I've seen.

I didn't want to collect, merely select. However, I suspect it's a matter of get it while it's in commerce because the time comes when it won't be, other plants come into vogue I suppose.

Stush I just noticed you HAVE a Gray Lady, don't mean to preach to the choir- so does my description match the one you have? I posted a photo of mine in the comparison of my trifasciatas, and then I got the little one that matches the newer foliage of the bigger one, posted pics of that one too.

Stush, I can see not wanting to own both Gray Lady and Silver Queen since they're just different sizes of silver with some green. I think Silver Queen also darkens with age like Silver Laurentii, maybe doesn't turn as dark. Gray Lady seems to hold it's silver color with age.

Color-wise, if I had to grow only one, I would choose Gray Lady as Stush has done.

Next O, these varieties have been around a VERY long time, so I don't think they're going by the wayside any time soon. But some can be difficult to find, so 'buy when you see them' is a good strategy. At least for a collector. But I do get that you don't want to collect, but to choose the ones you like. Actually the vast majority of folks interested in sans are selectors, not collectors, and prefer sans with variegation, pattern, something pretty or odd about them. There's nothing wrong with that whatsoever.

But I see something beautiful or interesting in all of them, the 'ugly' green ones, so I want them all.

Russ

Me too Russ, they are all charming in their way! I'm about to post pics of Silver Queen as I went to the nursery to pick the Coppertone for Rockdale, plus a spare or two....

I guess by definition I am a selector too. I just not that into certain kind of Sanseveria. (yeah, I said that on a Sans forum :). But overall, Sans are high on my plant list, it is neat, statue-like and very low maintenance :)

Next Obsession, thanks for helping me on the coppertone, much appreciated. I am so excited and cannot wait for its arriving.

Russ, I sent you an email.

Rockdale, I am glad Next O. was able to get you your S. K. 'Coppertone', Sadly I am only able to cut one plant off and made a mess of it.

Stush

No worries Stush,thanks though.

And NextO is one of the my favorite people in GW now :)

Thanks rockdale! Stush, that's so sad. Just shove it back together, it will grow again, right?

It needed done so in the long run it will be better.