Several years ago we got a succulent plant in a small pot from a friend. We did not know for sure what the name of the plant was, but it looked like it would go well in our “cactus row” by the parking lot so we planted it there. The plant did fairly well, so we transplanted it to a pot at our new home for future planting. You may remember how I discovered the small barbed hairs on the bottom of the leaves of these harmless succulents. See: https://johnandmarylivingitupinecuador.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/is-it-wise-to-try-to-move-cacti/ The succulent plants were small and took well to their new pot.
As we were trying to decide where to plant the succulent plants we discovered several other similar plants on the west side of our new home. These plants had not been tended for some time and looked like they might not live, so Javier and I moved them to a row along our west wall where we could tend them and water them regularly.
Ramon’s wife, Nura told me these plants are called dulcamara and are highly valued in Ecuador for many medicinal uses. Indeed the internet lists all kinds of uses for dulcamara. It is a succulent in the same family as aloe vera and it remains to be seen if we will be using the juice or leaves from these plants as medicine. For now we are just pleased with the way these now healthy plants look along the wall.
I should have taken pictures when we first planted these small plants. There was about a foot of open space between the plants which have now, in about four months, filled out to where they are touching each other!
The transplanted dulcamara plants from in the front of our house are even doing better!
A closer look shows the plants filling out to fill the bottom planter area in front of our deck.
These dulcamara seem to be a bit of different species than the ones along the wall with their spotted leaves. But they are also unique in the way they propagate new plants. The tips of the leaves arch downward toward the soil and sprout small white flowers. These tips eventually dip all the way down to the ground and the flower sprouts roots of its’ own.
New plants are springing up all around the mother plant filling the planter!
See it you can see how many baby plants are already showing themselves from the mama.
We will keep you posted as these interesting plants spread out and grow in our garden.
Meanwhile, what of the mystery flower we showed you budding in our last post?
It turned out to be a couple of beautiful white lilies. We are hopeful that many more will spring up in the coming weeks.
In the first picture of this post you can see another succulent plant that we had potted and now have planted in the front planter.
Right now we are not sure what this plant is called, but it is doing well and seems to agree with us that…
Life is good in Ecuador!
‘that lily is stunning! i was just admiring a georgia o’keeffe painting (jimsonweed) — so could picture your lily in equally stunning o’keeffe style!
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The lily was beautiful, but short lived. We hope many more come soon and stay for a while! The succulents are so hearty that they will live and flourish all year!
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Really interesting post about the succulents. I love the lily as well!
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Thank you, Barbara. We are still getting used to the plants native to this area. It is fun and challenging. Good to hear from you!
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