What type of desert plant do I have?

Question

I bought a plant from Home Depot a few weeks ago, and it was labeled as an aloe plant, but it obviously is not. It is about a foot tall, and curves about 80 degrees, but straightens upward everyday I water it. The leaves are green and sprout outward a few inches and hang like a palm tree. They grow all the way up the tree and are sort of waxy in texture... does anyone have any idea what kind of tree I might have? Free hive for whoever has the best answer:)

Phil gave an incredible answer, definately deserves a high five. BUT, I looked up the aloe variegata, and that is not my plant. My plant has a long, curved trunk/stem and the leaves are oblong and rounded, not pointy. I'll try to get a picture...

And now I see that it has alot of little yellow things resting on it. At first I thought the yellow stuff was growing on the plant, but I don't know if this is a growth stage or what. :(

Answer 1

i bought it too, it was labeled an aloe plant on the sign wasn't it , it said patridge breast aloe, that aloe plant is a baby maker, Scientific name, aloe variegata, patridge breast aloe, tiger aloe, they need indirect sunlight, water your aloe variegata once the leaves start getting unplump, the flowering begins in late autumn to late winter, the pups should be divided once they reach 2-3 inches and be put in a cacti succulent mix in a terra cotta pot, if it doesn't have roots let it callous over the window sill for about a week and then lay your cutting ontop of the soil then add some coarse grit and occasionally mist and in about a month it should start forming roots, gently pull and see if there is resistance and if there is that means there are roots and if there isn't that meand no roots so repeat the same process until roots form. Give the aloe variegata a cacti and succulent fertilizer. Hope this helps and way to go and Good Luck! One more thing before you pick a best answer punch in aloe variegata care information and if it shows that aloe that means it's what you wanted to know, I have been an aloe expert for ten years i know what aloes the people are trying to identify.

Answer 2

good book on this is Low Water Use Plants by Carol Shuler, Landscape Architect. This book is specifically for California and the desert southwest. One of my favorites is Lavender. Grows very well. I live in the high desert of Nevada and you see Lavender everywhere. Really though, if you want trees, shrubs, flowering plants etc, that will do well, read the book. You can get it at Lowes or Home Depot in the DIY area near the front door. That is where I got my copy. Good luck

Answer 3

Well, without a pic there is not way of knowing. Coming fro Home Depot it could have very well been mis-labeled. However, if it is a succulent or desert plant of any kind, I would suggest that you stop watering it every day. Once a week at most during it's growing period and not more than once a month while dormant.

Well, I've looked and I just can't find it using your description. Try this site and see if they have your plant. http://www.glasshouseworks.com/succ-a.html
Sorry, Wish I could be more help.

Answer 4

Any chance you could post a photo of it (or link to a pic of a plant of the same type)?

Anyway, it's definitely not an aloe or an agave.