Good Questions: Long Lasting Mystery Plant?

Amanda sent in this tip and question: I found this wonderful green filler for flower arrangements and it long outlasted the flowers. They're still going strong with no wilt after several months. I even went and bought some more because they are perfect for my dark bathrooms and much more budget friendly than flowers. But what are they? No one seems to know.

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Can anyone id this plant? We'd love to know...

Comments (12)

I can't tell what the plant is, but it is quite possible that it is rooting (sending out new roots) in the water. It could survive a long time this way, but things can get slimy--so change the water frequently. You can also rinse the rooting area off under running water to clean it up.

posted by mrs yow on January 13th 2009 at 2:32pm
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You might try taking it in to your local nursery (NOT one of the big chain stores' "nursery" but a small one that ONLY carries plants, if you can find one). They should be able to tell you what it is.

If it is rooting, though, you could plant it, wait until it blooms, and find out that way. ^_^

posted by deliriumsama on January 13th 2009 at 2:41pm
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It's not rooting, that's the strange thing.

posted by GreaterYesterday on January 13th 2009 at 2:49pm
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It just stays exactly the same for months. I don't know how long it will actually last. I've had it for 3-4 months.

posted by GreaterYesterday on January 13th 2009 at 2:50pm
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Oleander (?)

posted by Andreas I. on January 13th 2009 at 3:05pm
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Looks like a plant called Song of Jamaica, also known as Malaysian Dracaena, properly known as Dracaena reflexa. Here's a link to a nursery with photo:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/44418/

posted by blueyes on January 13th 2009 at 3:06pm
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I don't think it is a dracaena.

The leaves on dracaenas do not meet the stem in the same manner as this plant.

posted by amygdaloides on January 13th 2009 at 3:16pm
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Weird. If it were my plant, I'd have checked a dozen times to make sure it's not plastic. This post reminds me I wanna get a dracaena of some sort - invincible, as the mystery plant demonstrates - except the soil they're potted in invariably has those annoying soil gnats. Seems like a cutting in water like this would solve that problem.

posted by Chester Shoeshine on January 13th 2009 at 3:16pm
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I think it's called Israeli Ruscus or Ruscus hypophyllum.

It's a common filler in floral arrangements because it can last for ages after being cut. Stems cut in December can be used in arrangements as long as five months later.

posted by LilyC on January 13th 2009 at 3:22pm
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I think these may be a spray of Dendrobium orchid leaves. Very long lasting, and needing little care. Take a look at the veins on the leaves - are they parallel or netted?

Spray -- image is for _silk_ Dendrobium
http://www.displayit-info.com/silks/images/tropical%20foliage/P46-03320.jpg

Leaves - http://www.orchidsonline.com.au/node/1077

posted by m_j_s on January 13th 2009 at 3:24pm
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Hooray! I think you figured it out LilyC.

http://aquiya.skr.jp/zukan/Ruscus_hypophyllum03.jpg
http://www.flowersdirect.co.il/var/103/1115-tb-ruscus.gif

Thanks!

posted by GreaterYesterday on January 13th 2009 at 3:34pm
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I'm glad that was it! Amazing plant to last that long!

posted by LilyC on January 13th 2009 at 7:21pm
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