Tree of life

Discussion in 'Trees' started by ljasmine, Mar 11, 2008.

  1. ljasmine

    ljasmine Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi everyone

    My grandmother gave me a small plant the other day called a 'tree of life'. She says as the years go by in will grow into a tree like the one she has inside her house. Can't find any info on a tree of life on the internet. Does have another name to?
     
  2. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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    Good morning, ljasmine.

    If your plant is a conifer, then it is a Thuja, a member of the Cypress family. They are known as arbovitae which comes from the Latin for tree of life.

    The only other suggestions I can offer is the Ailianthus, the Tree of Heaven, which has frondy-like leaves, or the Cercis, the Tree of Love, which has heart-shaped leaves.

    Whichever, I am surprised your grandmother has such inside her house as a tree's natural habitat is outside, even for Bonsai.

    A picture would be useful. [​IMG]
     
  3. ljasmine

    ljasmine Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi lady of leisure

    Here are two pics of the tree of life [​IMG]

    I don't think it can be a bonsai as her's got pretty massive [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
  4. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] Good Morning ljasmine, I agree with LoL about the Cypress family... Or the only others I know of is Family: Zygophyllaceae.. Lignum Vitae, Tree of Life, Gaiac tree. They are a tropical & I see them in Jamaica thye grow to about 20-30ft there.. Here is a photo & a Link..
    [​IMG]

    http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Guaiacum_sanctum.htm

    OR..

    A member of the Crassulaceae, a Bryophyllum Pinnatum, or another name is Kalanchoe pinnatum.. These are a succulent. Amember of the same family as the "Mother of Thousands"..
    I have a small one of these in my greenhouse here, that just jumped into my pocket..! :rolleyes: And one in my garden in Jamaica..! Have not got mine to flower in the greenhouse yet..!
    Here is a picture of the plant..

    [​IMG]

    and if you can get it to flower it looks like this..

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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  6. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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    Hello ljasmine and Marley.

    Marley is correct that it is a Money Plant ... I too have a very large one about 28 years old now. I have never heard it call the Tree of Life before I must say.

    Marley, I just love your Jamaican Tree of Life and see that it's the national flower of Jamaica. Maybe some seeds could find their way into your pocket next time you visit. [​IMG]

    Another mystery solved!
     
  7. Sarraceniac

    Sarraceniac Gardener

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    I used to have one (along with an aspidistra) in my waiting room. Like the aspidistra it thrives on neglect and eventually grows pretty big. Don't know what happened to it when I retired. Either my successor got it or it was considered too big and was just dumped. Very attractive though.
     
  8. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] Hi Lol, probably not seeds LoL, but can bring you back a little plantlet when I go in April..!! Will that be alright? ;) :D

    [​IMG] It will probably do really well in your climate as that other Kalanchoe plant that we did the "succulent ID" on, is the same family as you can see by the flowers shapes.. :D
     
  9. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    The Jade plant or Money plant can last for many years. We have a couple that are about 30 years old. The hotel that we stay at in the Lake District has one in a very large pot and is at least 5ft tall and a spread of about 4ft.

    As John says, they need very little looking after. The Aspidistra needs even less looking after and is known as the Cast Iron plant because it is so tough.
     
  10. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] I thought you might like to see this one... It is only about 7yrs old.. It is a variegated one... You usually see the green ones as my other ones are...

    Variegated Jade Plant
    Crassula ovata 'Variegata

    [​IMG]


    * [​IMG]
     
  11. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] Slightly off topic again, but here is a little planlet of the Kalanchoe pinnata or Tree of Life Plant from Jamaica LoL. This has survived the winter in my greenhouse & apart from going a little pale it is growing...! Yea...!! This is what I will be bringing back for you LoL.... ;) :D

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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    Now that is lovely, Marley ... I have never seen a variegated Jade Plant. It's very similar in colouring to my variegated Rubber Tree.

    That's a nice leaf on the Jamaican plant and I look forward to receiving a little plantlet. [​IMG]

    Perhaps I can be cheeky and ask if a small piece of the variegated Jade Plant could sneak into the package with the Jamaican Plant. :rolleyes: [​IMG]
     
  13. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    :D Oh crikey, yes of course Lol... :D :D
     
  14. joyce42

    joyce42 Gardener

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    Your Grandmas plant is Crassular Argentia if you are very lucky it gets red flowers.j42
     
  15. RWM

    RWM Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi,

    We received a nice card from a friend that had a little packet of seeds attached labelled "Tree of Life". I tried germinating two ages ago (peat pockets in a propagator 20-28 0C) but after 5 weeks no signs of anything!

    Do you think I should try soaking them in water for 24 hr before trying again or scoring them?

    Anybody any ideas?

    Regards

    Russell.
     
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