Plant trade excitement

I love trading plants with other gardeners. Usually a trade involves one or more specific plants, but sometimes other plants get thrown in for good measure. Once I’ve even done a mystery box trade, which in many ways was the most exciting of them all.

Last weekend I sent an Agave lophantha ‘Quadricolor’ to a Facebook friend and yesterday our mail lady delivered this gigantic box (20 x 20 x 20 inches):

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This was definitely the largest box of plants I’ve ever received!

After removing all the packaging materials—the goodies inside the box were very well protected—I was left with two bulging bags full of promise.

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Two aeoniums peeking through the Styrofoam peanuts!

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Very carefully I retrieved my new babies from the two bags. Here they are bare root…

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…and planted in temporary pots.

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Aeoniums are one of my favorite group of succulents, and I’m very happy to have seven new plants in my collection.

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LEFT: Aeonium ‘Sunburst’
RIGHT: Aeonium undulatum (?), a full 10 inches in diameter

I bought a blue-and-white talavera pot from a street vendor last week and I thought it was perfect for an Aeonium ‘Sunburst’. The problem was I didn’t have one. Now I do!

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Aeonium ‘Sunburst’

The plants survived shipped in near perfect condition. Three leaves broke off the largest aeonium (Aeonium undulatum?) but I simply stuck them in a small pot filled with succulent mix. Since aeoniums do propagate from leaf cuttings, I will soon have three more plants.

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Aeonium arboreum var. holochrysum leaf cuttings

Aeoniums of all size and color and cool but the coolest of them all are the dark purple varieties. In the sun, they turn almost black.

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BACK: Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’
FRONT: Aeonium ‘Voodoo’

The primary focus of this trade was an offset of Agave guiengola ‘CrĆØme BrĆ»lĆ©e’. This baby may not look that impressive, but an adult specimen is a sight to see.

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Agave guiengola ‘CrĆØme BrĆ»lĆ©e’

I can’t wait for my next plant trade!

Comments

  1. I love getting these deliveries in the mail! Great looking plants!

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  2. What a fun surprise! The Agave guiengola ‘CrĆØme BrĆ»lĆ©e’is some kind of wonderful!

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  3. Great trade, happiness on both sides. Anything you are looking for in particular? ;^)

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    1. Oh, I'm an equal opportunity plant nut. Succulents are always on top of my list but I'm also into Australian natives and perennials in general.

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  4. I guess all of us who go bonkers over succulents know this feeling "very well", I am usually ready with prep soil, tags, pots, itching to get my hands on the "Christmas box", even if it is mid year and I payed for it! LOL! Looks like a great trade and if you had some fun! Just wonderful. LT

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  5. How fun for you! I wish I could indulge in plant trading more. Shipping restrictions between countries makes it very difficult. In the past I've had to ensure that the sender can provide phytosanitary certificates and I would need import permits. - Bom @ plantchaser.com

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    1. I regret that, too. It would be fantastic being able to trade with fellow gardeners around the world.

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  6. How fun does that package looks! Sunburst is my favourite aeonium :)

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