We call this "Cleopatra's Earings" here in the south

[Rose655]

Does anyone have the botanical name or any other name for this lovely spider-like plant. It is outside in summer, inside in winter in my zone which is 7. Very easy to grow and sends out it's new sprout beginners the same as the spider plant. Any help here? this is my lst time using this forum so please forgive any mistakes.131

[nectar]

I think you are right with spider plant, or Chlorophytum comosum 'Solid Green'.
Here's a picture:
http://www.interseeds.com/images/plants/chlorophytum_green.jpg

And the website it's from, about quarter way down:
http://www.interseeds.com/cart/plants.htm

nectar

[Miranda]

I think you must be in the US, Rose, as we don't really do zones here because the weather here doesn't work the same. It must be odd living somewhere where the weather is reliable enough to have a zone.

I don't think your plant is a Chlorophytum, the leaves look too chunky and hard. Could it be a Bromeliad of some sort?

Doing an image search on 'Cleopatra's earring' brought this image:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calliope/5611906/ which is rather impressive.

[digger]

Yes you must be in the US or Canada i think that the plant looks like a helebore??

[Paul Narramore]

Rose has asked on various message boards for the correct name for her plant and someone is sure it is Callisia fragrans however if you Google that name, it's clearly not the same plant.

Are we any nearer to knowing the answer of the name of this striking plant?:confused:

[Miranda]

I still think it's a Bromeliad but, without seeing the flowers, you can't tell what sort. It certainly doesn't look right for Callisia fragrans.

The picture I found of 'Cleopatra's earrings' is actually Billbergia nutans, but the photo we were given here doesn't have the same leaves. The leaves on B. nutans are far more strap-like and not as thick.

Looking at a Bromeliad site, I thought it looked similar to Pepinia sprucei, which has quite striking flowers, and Connellia nutans, though C. nutans doesn't have as attractive a flower. They both look to have the right leaf shape and growth habit.

I reckon it would be worth contacting the International Bromeliad Society (http://bsi.org/) and sending them a better photo, one that includes the flowers, and asking for an ID.

[Nicholas]

I'm new and just registered; I have had my plant(s) 4 yrs. outside. My friend gave me a few rooted sprouts and told me they like to live in water, so I had them in a mixing bowl with rocks in my patio for 2 yrs. - they grew slowly and remained light green (no flowers). When I needed my bowl I placed them in moist soil, and they seemed to grow to a darker green and within a year I had 2 beautiful flowers, so I called my friend and asked her what they were (Cleo. Necklace/Earrings). The next year they outgrew the pot & I had 6-9 flowers, I thinned them out & gave away plants last year, and although it is still cold at night they have already bloomed in early Feb. with about 15+ flowers! I don't know the botanical name.

[Silver surfer]

Welcome Nicholas.

Since this was originally posted in 2006, the www has moved on conciderably.
There are far more images from reputable sites ,showing many rare and unusual plants.

Compare to Callisia fragrans see....


http://www.flickr.com/photos/srhbth/3155799908/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_031108-3182_Callisia_fragrans.jpg


http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CAFR6


http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/157956/


http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/67719/