Ran across a treasure at Big Box store

9 years ago

A large local hardware store chain offers many succulents for sale. The vast majority of them are typical bread-and-butter species I usually already have. But my eye caught a novel one horribly planted up in a non-porous bottle with 2 other species of succulent, one of which was dying from the lack of drainage. I knew immediately it was a Sansevieria pinguicula. Boy, I grabbed that stupid bottle-planted collection right up, even if just for this one. Another of the plants was a very pretty succulent, perhaps a kalanchoe of some sort. I have the third plant, which will probably die, potted up in much more appropriate soil and drainage. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will regenerate.

Here's the Sansevieria pinguicula:

Best of all, I convinced the store manager to give me the whole bottle of plants for half price since they weren't in the best shape. A little TLC brought this one right back.

Featured Answer

vitorama

9 years ago

I agree with Elliot 100% on the ID, Esther. Nice find!

Ycloh, your looks like S. sp. 'Silver Blue'.

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Comments (9)

Esther-B, Zone 7a
Original Author
9 years ago
Here is one of many images I found on the internet clearly labeled Sansevieria pinguicula:
ElliotLi
9 years ago
Congrats on this nice plant! It is definitely sansevieria. Could be s. pinguicula or s. ehrenbergii samurai, or some other ehrenbergii. Hard to tell until it grows larger or blooms.
Esther-B, Zone 7a thanked ElliotLi
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Esther-B, Zone 7a
Original Author
9 years ago
My plant does not seem to have any of the subtle striations of the image I posted from the internet, but that could very well be due to a lack of sufficient light while in the Big Box store. It had no access to decent light on the second shelf of a shelving unit. It seems solid green on the leaves.

Now that I am looking at images of S. ehrenbergii samurai, I am astonished. Never knew of that variety. Mine could very well be that instead of pinguicula. Is the culture of S. ehrenbergii the same as S. pinguicula? I have it on a table about 2' from a can light aimed at it on one side and an eastern window about 5' away on the other side. Other sansevierias on the same table seem to be doing well, such as a golden hahnii and S. francissii.
Ycloh1 (Singapore)
9 years ago
Is this the same.?
Esther-B, Zone 7a
Original Author
9 years ago
Ycloh1, that is a BEAUTIFUL Sans! But no, my new plant doesn't have the lovely scalloped edges yours has. I'm really leaning toward what Elliot said, about it actually being an ehrenbergii. With the addition of this new baby, I am now up to 4 Sans species, whoo-hoo!
robinswfl
9 years ago
It's a beautiful Sans to capture at a local hardware store. I'm jealous. What a find! I agree with vitorama and Elliot on the ID -- I think it's an ehrenbergii samurai, rather than pinguicula. In my opinion, the former is even harder to come by (in such nice shape) than the latter. You found a BEAUTIFUL specimen.

The scalloped-edge plants are indeed Sans Kirkii "silver blue." I have two of them from a local grower. Mine are very slow growing, which is frustrating -- but one recently put out a new leaf and it turned HUGE in a matter of weeks.
Esther-B, Zone 7a thanked robinswfl
woodnative
9 years ago
Could it be something like a young Lavaranos 23251?? These are faster growing than pinguicula. Whatever it is nice find. You will have to update us in a few months to see what it is growing into!!
Esther-B, Zone 7a thanked woodnative
Esther-B, Zone 7a
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, Woodnative. I will try to post an updated pic in a few months, when it's had time to acclimate and grow a bit more.