Help needed for ID please

Please go to http://davesgarden.com/showforumphoto.php?imageid=5661 to help ID senecio.

How about a close up of the tips of the stems. Do the leaves have (hair) What color is the flower, what does it look like, When is it in flower? Were did this plant come from, did you asked when you received it what it was? Do so perhaps you can gain more information for us. Looks like it was just transplanted, grown in the shade? I hope we will able to help you, Finally what make you think it is a Senecio? Norma

Will go out today and try to take a better picture and hope I can remember how to post :-) This was a purchase from Lowe's and of course it had a marker in it that said "succulent - senecio" which I know doesn't mean much. The plant was huge and I did break it up as I wanted to take some transplants to the trade at MzM's on the 26th. It hasn't bloomed yet and is really an interesting plant.

I was selling at the Huntington Gardens today, and I do believe your plant is a Senecio. It looks very stretched out, it is either from Altman's or Western's wholesale plants (they grow in the shade) Ours is just coming into flower, however, many Senecio, and other species have look alikes. Now we must wait and see when it flowers to make sure which one it is.
Im going to check the spelling and make a guess. Remember, it is just a guess at this time. Would I be able to print off the picture you sent? Norma

Going nuts, trying to find something in my books that might match. I came up with medley-woodii, but if it doesn't have felt on the lvs when they are young, then I will have to start over again, this plant will have a daisy like yellow flower.
If it has a swollen base then I have two other choices but the flowers are entirely different, shape and color. Senecio are a funcky group of plants. Norma

Crasulady2 - thanks for all your help - I posted a couple of more pics in the Identification forum - sorry for the two threads - but got this camera and MzM is trying to teach an old dog new tricks :-) I'll get it together in a couple of days or so. I've got tons of plants I need to ID and love this website.

Juju, I think I found what I was looking for, this is not written in stone either. Try this name I think it is really better. The other one should be growing upright. Senecio tropaeolifoliius, now say that three times fast. Now I'm going to look up this name and see what cultural information I can find on how it grows. (succulent Nasturium)
I know you were just testing me, it sure keeps me on my toes, and I will learn something new tonight. Norma

Judy... if not mistaken this is ur mysterious senecio http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Asteraceae/Senecio_kleiniiformis.html if not let me know. i will try to look further, so far from what i have seen this is the closest i could find. basing from the pic u have, ur plant need more sun which is why it is leggy. correct me if i am wrong. hope that help u.

Hi MaVieRose

I don't believe it could be the same thing, the petole
(leaf stem) doesn't match. The flowers color is the same,
Juju, does your plant have any sign of a caudex? Look under the soil line please.

I looked up the suggested name of S. kleinformis. Not creeping, pruinose, upright stem, one or more large tips, flowers white or yellow. These leaves look nothing like the one Juju showed us. I would still like to see the flower when it opens. Is it daisy like? The one that I suggested does not have an upright stem.
Jon Dixon, can you shed any light on this please?
Jeff Harris, what can you say about this species? What about the other 499 people out there? Any suggestions?

Norma

HI MaVie - that was a great picture and I have that variety of Senecio also and they are not the same - This has a definate long stem and spade shaped leaf the flowering stem is almost 12 inches in length with 3 flowers on it - the flowers are similar but only about 1/2" - they are more similar to a small dandelion - They haven't opened yet. It is from Altman's as that is the only source that Lowe's uses for cacti and succulents here. I had it in full Florida sun when I first bought it and almost lost it and when I moved to a semi shaded area it took off. No caudex under the soil. Crasulady2 email me your snail mail address and I'll send you a cutting.

I would really would love a cutting, mailed the address already. This way I can show it to the curator and find out how close our guesses were. I learned another lesson tonight, books just don't have every thing in them,I have also looked in all my catalogues I can't find a picture. The information that I have looked up isn't consistant as well on either plant. I know it isn't the plant that I suggested. Norma

I spelled a word wrong for a definition. Sorry
petiole-the stem by which a leaf is attached to the stem.
Norma

That's OK Norma I forgive ya :-)

Norma... once upon time, not too long ago, i used to collect cacti, succulents and caudex forms. i used to live in L.A., Ca. for a good number of years. i used to get my rare collection from Lohman's Nursery when they used to be in Bellflower. last time i went there years ago, the place was empty no note to inform where they moved to. having said that, the reason why i said the plant was 'leggy' is because some plants do have the tendency to do that if not enough sunlight is available. my choice of recommendation was based on shaped of the leaf. unfortunately it is not so.

last night i searched high and low and cannot find anything suitable. i was amazed to find that some senecio has the sunflower, tansy and other numerous plants in the same family. sorry am not much into terminology or latin names, my main concern is to grow and make a plant healthy. sorry i've tried. maybe someone whose into horticulture is one we need to help us solved the mystery of this plant. now i wish i had my garden books.

Judy... since i am starting my garden all over, i've noticed when i find some plants over at Walmart or Home Depot [the only nursery closeby and available on this isolated area where i live.], could it be possible, of which is more than probable that plant names are mislabeled. if not, some customers have a bad habit of looking at labels and never placed it back. i am beginning to wonder if that is the case here. besides, most plants i've noticed too are given general name i.e. cactus or succulents. as i checked some of the succulents i've bought, only carry those general names.

as i was searching last night was a double bonus for me. one i was trying to find the name of ur plant, and the other one was i was able to get the names of some of my plant, including the lovely aloe u sent me. thank you Judy! don't get me wrong, i haven't given up. maybe by luck, i might be lucky to find it yet ;)! ma vie rosé

Gosh, thanks for the message. I know Tom at Loeman's, he is going out of business, due to loss of lease. My information comes from books if I don't grow the plant myself.
I also thought that it was grown in far too much shade and stated so. I also guessed that it was from Altmans. Deena Altman has a habit of renaming the plants.
My experience comes from 65 years of growing them, and 9 years working at the Huntington Gardens as an volunteer.
I can always take a plant to John Trager of the Gardens for a identification, this is one of our perks working for a major garden. I just don't have enough books at home.
Tomorrow I will be going to the garden and will continue to research the plant because I'm just plain curious.
Because of my friends I can usually get most any plant execept the exceptionally rare that the Huntington is even missing. I grow at this time approximately 3000 plants but only 12-1500 different species. I do specialize in the Crassulaceae family. I should have specialized in spelling or writing instead. So if your needing or looking for something, don't be bashful and just let me know. I do not have many cactus, except the Schick Hybrids. Best Regards to all and a good night. Norma

Juja, I think I found the plant. Cacti & Succulents from
MotherNature. I don't like quoting books but I have no other choice at the moment.
Senecio tropaeolifollus "Succulent Nasturtium" High Light. Allow soil to become slightly dry between waterings. and it says more. It does have an attractive tuberous root. The leaves do look like yours, but the stems just don't flop around. Pale green leaves have round, but irregular sides.
They call it a succulent vine, trim it back very severaly to form the caudex. I did have this plant many years ago from Altmans. I killed it because of too much water. Fertilize only when actively growing. It's a cooool plant. Send your address, I'm sending you the book. Norma

MaVie and Norma - you guys are great and the knowledge you have is really amazing - I'm just a "plantaholic" who started out collecting cacti and succulents because I thought I had a brown thumb and was killing everything else I got. I thought having and growing the cacti and succulents would be easy - Also I needed to find a "stress reliever" and tending to plants took my mind off alot of problems I was having at the time both personally and professionally. To my amazement the cacti and succulents weren't as easy to take care of as I had thought - I lost many a good ones to "overwatering" and too much care or not enough care. I also had to deal with the full Florida sun in the summers and learned real quick that most cacti can take it and most of the succulents I had cannot. Another problem here is the humidity in the summer. I use to scout around the local nurseries and flea markets just looking for different looking ones and yes I know less than 10 percent had tags. I then found the internet and different websites and forums that I gained a world of knowledge from - I remember seeing Norma's posting and advice on a cacti forum and was amazed at the knowledge and experience she had - I learned alot from reading her advice to others. I also was able through the kindness of others obtain some wonderful cuttings and plants. With my collection now I am able to repay by sending cuttings and extra plants I have to others. A few years back I took a chance and started collecting other types of plants tropicals, perinnials, etc. and have quit an assortment. Most of these I have rescued from the discounted/almost dead plant rack at various stores - and a number I have acquired from attending local plant trades and again friends over the internet exchanging plants and seeds. I'm confident when Norma receives this plant next week - she will be able to tell me what it is and if I was taking good care of it or not :-) MaVie if you want a cutting too - I'll send.

Got to run - thank you again for your help.

Norma ... my exposure to cacti, succulents & caudex forms dates back to my toddler years. my mother is a collector of a kinds of plants involving xeriscaping. my father added to my mom's addiction whenever he travels, bring home those rare collections & forms. unlike my mother, i am more into fragrant flowers and leaf forms in my teen years. as i matured, and got heavily involved in plants, i ventured into all kinds of plants. where i differ from my mother, her ways is trials & errors and hardly looked at the books my father bought her. my way is... when i tour garden show, park or nurseries, and find something that would be of interest to me, i do research until i am satisfied and confident enough to venture into the plant that triggers my interest. then search again for the source of the plant for a very reasonable price, or find someone who could spare a cutting or baby plants. then my adventure with said plant begins!
u're right Norma, plants i & my mother bring home, i find names are so much different from books of known specialist on certain species of plants. oh well, live & learn i guess.

Judy, we all do have the tendency to kill plants on account of overwatering. don't feel bad, u are not alone. at one point & time, we are all guilty somehow ;). raising cacti & succulents isn't that simple as we normally thought. i learned thru the years to mix my own soil accdg to needs of specific plant. i've learned too during hot days, instead of watering the plant, just mist it. these days, i allow my plants to dry out, but not to the point of wilting. similar to human being, plant do come from different culture & environment... once we meet their specific criteria could we say, we finally know what we grow. and the plant in turn respond by giving us the pleasure of it's beauty. yes, that would be nice to have a cutting for me to venture into the wonders of that plant. plus it will increase the present 5 population of Aloe, Epiphyllum & Echeveria that i presently have. LOL! thank you :)! it is my pleasure to be of some help.

You both deserve some new plants, send your address and postage. I'll just fill up the box. I finally got off the jury. It was a 6 week trial. I feel as if I just got out of jail.

To whom it may concern, I do not believe in misting unless they are species (tropical) that absolutely regure it. I live in a very dry atmosphere, semi-arid valley, I still do not mist, except my seeds that I'm trying to start. Any thing you want identified just send along a cutting, John Trager will ID it for us.

Grow San. if you have humid conditions, they are really easy and some, which may surprise you, are really attractive. Norma

Heck the way I learned was trial and error.......until I was allowed to volunteer at the Huntington. Now it is formal, and I really just starting to get the confidence to start using the latin descriptions, so my boss will understand what I'm talking about. A plant is a plant to me, I like them all. They are Nature's art. Never looked in a book until the past 9 years.
I also found the name of a plant that was described to me by the boss, only because juja needed a name of her plant. I also found a picture of it for you juja, please send me your address so I can send the picture. John was shocked that I could do that. Well, I surprised him, ha ha, I told him this old lady doesn't have air between the ears, now he believes me. Norma

Hi Juja, the plant that you first Senecio that I named was correct. The plant that you sent that has softly felted leaves and a channeled petiole come with two names,

Glasshouse works has it as K.Hildebrandtii Stock #60393

The Huntington Gardens K. ebracterta Bed 59 HBG 16077 it will have a long flower stalk with red flowers when the plant is mature. It will grow into a nice shrub. This is the time to take cuttings. Now I will look it up from the small collection of books that I have and see I can find any thing more about it for you. What does lol mean?
Norma

Juja, I believe your's is K. hildebrandtii, gosh they sure look alike. If I'm correct yours will have the white flowers. The one from the Huntington is quite rare and has the red tiny flower clusters on a rather long stem. I just want you to know mine has more felt on the leaves, but clones are different. I still have one more place to look it up, and will do that as well. Well, so much for helping you, I hope I didn't just mix you up. Norma

Norma... am afraid the search for the name of this mysterious plant isn't solve yet. here is a url showing the K. Hildebrandtii http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6400/kalanchoe/khildebr.html observe the leaves to be rounded. the plant Judy has have almost heart like heart shape, not compact but sort of leggy.... i still believe it is S. kleiniiformis what do u think???? ma vie

btw... LOL mean laughing out loud.

No, no, we are now talking about a Kalanchoe, we switched the rules on you, Juja, sent me three cuttings, 2 senecio,
but only one Kalanchoe, I'm glad that you read carefully, I wasn't trying to fool you, my but you are sharp. Thanks,