Need help identifying this succulent

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

This is often mistaken for a Burro's tail or Donkey's tail, but the leaves seem to grow in the opposite direction as they do, and the leaves are also much further apart. I don't know if this plant is supposed to have hanging branches or not. The first couple of years it grew straight up, then it started bending, so I used a wire brace to keep it upright. It kept wanting to bend and I didn't want to force it, so I let them hang. This succulent sits on a table, so where it bends and starts growing straight up again is where it hits the tabletop. The smallest one in the center is still growing upwards, but is starting to bend. I don't have any idea what this plant is or what I should be doing with it. It seems the leaves closest to the pot are turning a yellowish/pinkish color. I don't know if that's a bad thing or not. Any ideas?

Featured Answer

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

That is very etiolated plant...even trailing plants are more compact than that. They may have leaves only toward the end of the stem, but leaves should be plump and close together. Stems will be visibly sturdy, even if trailing.

In low light, the stems keep growing long in hope they find more light. Many ppl think the plant is growing fast, but it is not healthy growth. Stems get weak, can't support themselves, leaves are growing far apart, may get the 'droopy' look, point in wrong direction, loose the color that is usual for the plant.

Yellowish or pinkish color could be sign of over or under watering - what is it potted in? How do you water it? Old leaves will naturally shrink and dry and fall off, but not so many at the same time.

Your plant is just too stretched and can't be corrected. The ends should be pruned off and potted to start new plants. But you need to find location with much better light for it, otherwise it will look the same, sooner or later.

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Comments (8)

dancibear420
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for the input Ria......to answer your questions:

This plant sits in a south facing window with tons of sunlight for nearly the whole day. I don't think light could be the issue unless it's getting too much??

I water it when the soil dries out. It's potted in a typical terra cotta planter (that's sitting inside of the white hobnail planter you can see in the photo).

The leaves never fall off. They are firm and plump.

Do you know what this plant is called?
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rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
10 years ago
I do not know for sure what plant it is but know for sure it is etiolated. Amount & intensity of light that comes thru the window is much less than direct light and usually difficult to judge. As I said, even trailing type of succulents that have long stems (and quite often longer sections without leaves) will have them (leaves) much closer than your plant.

Too much sun will cause burned leaves rather than thin, stretched stalks.
greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
10 years ago
I agree entirely with Rina, your plant is very, very etiolated. What kind of mix is it in, has it ever been repotted, how long was it since it had a change of soil?

Gill
lmontestella
10 years ago
I believe it IS a Sedum morganianum (Burro's tail or Donkey's tail) just not recognizable as such because it's so VERY stretched out to the light. It's supposed to be compact in growth & yes it'll hang 'cause the branches get heavy w/ plump fully-leafed out growth.

Lena
dancibear420
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for all the tips, everyone! I found out what it is!!! I went back to the nursery where I got it and found another one. It's called Sedum Rubrotinctum 'Aurora'. And they are supposed to turn from green to red in the summer months. So the color changing is not an issue, just the stretching. I'm going to prune it and start them new and find a different window for them. Thanks again!
greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
10 years ago
Well I've

never seen one that looks like that! These are some of mine and I bet my light levels here in the less than sunny UK are a lot lower than yours.....

Gill
Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Oh Gill there's that pic of your beautiful sedum. They look so good I wanna eat them:) A few days ago I got a couple containers of Auroras. Hopefully one day mine will look half as good as yours!