Sansevieria pinguicula... I think I'm in love

[Azuleja]

The problem with buying the slow growers in small sizes is waiting a year for each leaf. At least that's what I measured on some before and after photos on the Sanseverix website. I'm not that patient.

[Gee.S]

I dunno, that may describe the likes of S. rorida and S. pinguicula (maybe...), but most Sans are fast growers if you find their sweet spot.

One year's growth.



And it's still smaller than the S. ehrenbergii I picked up at AL.

[Brooksphilly]

i am envious that you are able to visit AL and select plants. Gorgeous sans you have! After disappointing results, I am leery of buying site unseen thru nurseries. Have learned the hard way to only use excellent sellers who will show me an exact picture of the plant.

[Azuleja]

Gee, your arborescens is a looker. We don't have many bright spots for houseplants inside and I've already killed a $20 cylindrica in the cold. I'm going to a c&s show today though, so who knows what I might come home with.

[Gee.S]

Believe me, I get it. I don't have bright indoor spots either. I do have three Sans indoors in a NE facing window, and while they look attractive and healthy, they certainly aren't thriving and growing like those I keep outdoors. Most like it brighter than the brightest window, and most like wind. Problem is, every new find is another plant I'll have to shuttle in and out of the cold through winter. I don't mind a few, but at some point it starts getting tedious. And sooner or later, I'll miscalculate or forget just once -- and it won't be pretty.

[Steph115]

What do you guys think of this? Labeled S. Robusta and for a great price.

[Gee.S]

Lucky girl! I had to wipe my chin! Oh that's going to be a beast, isn't it?

[Steph115]

It really is. I couldn't believe the size. I had to double & triple check the price.

[Gee.S]

Way to go!

BTW, wish me luck! I finally worked up the nerve to try my S. ehrenbergii on the patio table, where it will be exposed to considerable direct sun. It's even darker than the S. pinguicula. I never hesitated exposing the ping for two reasons; it's small so easy to protect to some extent with larger neighbors, and even if it does burn a little, that little guy is more about future stilted offsets. And it's been exposed for long enough now that I'm no longer concerned. S. ehrenbergii burns OTOH, will absolutely ruin it. Fingers crossed.

[Steph115]

Good luck! I have faith your ehrenbergii will be ok. Ive yet to see the fleshier / more cylindrical sans burn, but this is only in my limited experience. My blue pinguicula takes the strongest sun out of any of my plants actually. Your ehrenbergii looks green in photos - is it green in person as well or does it have any glaucous coating to it?

Regarding my recent pick up: Do you think S. Robusta is the correct ID? When I first looked it up it came up with flat-leaved sans, but then there were some ID'd as "s. Robusta 'fat form'" which resemble the one I got.

[Gee.S]

I don't see why not, but wth do I know?

Here are a couple robusta pics from a Journal article.

Sansevieria robusta

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Sansevieria robusta

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[Steph115]

Cool cool - I just like to pick y'alls brains especially with the tricky sans! The one thing that struck me as a little different is the slight rotation of the leaves.

[Azuleja]

Hey, what a great find! Congratulations I had so much fun at the c&s show today. There were literally only two sans on the sale side, but I zeroed in on them. I was a late arrival but figured I'd still find something fun. Nothing like your awesome score though.

[Steph115]

Thanks Azul! I really like the one you came home with from the C&S show as well. Very beautiful, long leaves.

[Spination]

Steph... I think it looks nice and robust. Nice find!

[Steph115]

Thanks Spiny! They had this and several S. pinguiculas with two mature rosettes for $15, all in pretty good condition. They had them on the floor not getting the attention they deserved. Had to hold myself back from buying more. Other than that, they had francisii, "starfish" (boncel?), and a couple different types of cylindrical/flat-leaved sans.

[jayhouseplant]

Thanks Spiny! They had this and several S. pinguiculas with two mature rosettes for $15, all in pretty good condition. They had them on the floor not getting the attention they deserved. Had to hold myself back from buying more. Other than that, they had francisii, "starfish" (boncel?), and a couple different types of cylindrical/flat-leaved sans.

Wish I was there! I wanted to by a pinguicula

[Steph115]

Jay - next time I go I can snag one for you if you're willing to pay $15+ shipping. They've had the pings every time I've been, so it seems like they carry them pretty regularly. They're by far the most reasonably priced S. pinguicula I've seen.

[jayhouseplant]

Steph - thank you so much. yeah, I'd be willing to do that. Are these events annually or do they have it throughout the year?

[Gee.S]

Here's an online S. pinguicula description that cracked me up...

Silvery-gray thick horny wedge leaves, channeled on top with rounded swollen underside, tipped with sharp spine--looks like an Agave trying to morph into a punk sausage.

[Steph115]

Gee - that's hilarious! And I have to give it to them for really capturing the likeness. Those leaves aren't messing around.

Jay - It's no special event, just the normal inventory at East Austin Succulents. I wouldn't be surprised if they stop carrying them once the weather turns cold, though. Not sure when my next trip will be but I'll keep you in mind when I go.

[Steph115]

Im just going to throw out there that I have a problem with pinguiculas. I can't seem to stop collecting them. Every time I see one that has a particularly nice shape or color, it catches my eye and I contemplate bringing it home. This time though, I really couldn't resist.

This pinguicula measures at 13 inches tall. It was really the shape of the leaves though that got me. I couldn't resist the wind blown appearance of it.

I feel like it must be some kind of hybrid, which has been mentioned here previously. What I love about it though is that it has retained all the quintissential pinguicula traits - from the leaf symmetry, to the base, to the highly stilted roots and above ground method of offsetting.

What do you guys think? Pinguicula - robusta hybrid? Or just intraspecies variation? Here's a photo below of my existing ping (which itself is large on average) compared to the new beast.

[Spination]

Wow, very nice! I didn't know myself if they got that big (don't have any of my own), so I looked in The Splendid Sansevieria book and he gives leaf length up to 12". Also, the pic of the blooming specimen in there doesn't really look much different from yours.... except, yours does have that great wind-blown appearance you mentioned.

[Gee.S]

FANTASTIC! You are the giant ping lady! Your grandkids are becoming concerned that you don't love them any more -- lol. One of the pups is stilting. Not bad for sitting outside all winter.

Sansevieria pinguicula

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[Steph115]

Hahah the grandkids are GORGEOUS! Beautiful seafoam green turquoise color. And the margins/spines are so immaculate and perfect. It's turning into quite the grouping. Curious - how cold does it get where you are during winter?

And Spiny, thanks for the info from Splendid Sans. That's good to know and makes me love it even more