# Help me identify my new plants!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-my-new-plants/838165>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 4, 2019, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-my-new-plants/838165 "2019-08-04T09:50:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-my-new-plants/838165/1 "2019-08-04T09:50:36Z")

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So I thought my room could use a bit more life, and went and bought two plants. Trouble is, they didn’t come with any tag indicating their name, and I didn’t think to ask at the register. Thus, I now have two plants, and I don’t really know how to care for them, or even what they are. I selected them mostly for their unique appearance, but googling their features so far didn’t reveal anything. Any help is appreciated!

[Mystery plant 1, top view](https://1drv.ms/u/s!AohFcFgF_nhOpCh2TsC5LjgaazX7)  
[Mystery plant 1, side view](https://1drv.ms/u/s!AohFcFgF_nhOpCmX8uOoRY9M6G6I)

[Mystery plant 2, top view](https://1drv.ms/u/s!AohFcFgF_nhOpCqMWOOQ5txFsrlG)  
[Mystery plant 2, side view](https://1drv.ms/u/s!AohFcFgF_nhOpCv6ggPXMhSFTGEG)

The second plant’s color doesn’t quite come through in these pictures—the leaves are almost black, with a greyish-white streak down the center.

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**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-my-new-plants/838165/2 "2019-08-04T11:46:46Z")

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I’s suggest using this free app. It works amazing.

> **[PlantSnap - Plant Identifier App, #1 Mobile App for Plant Identification](https://www.plantsnap.com)**
>
> PlantSnap is an easy-to-use plant identifier app. Use it for instant flower identification, tree identification, and other plant identification needs!

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**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-my-new-plants/838165/3 "2019-08-04T12:39:00Z")

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> [@GMANCANADA](#):
>
> I’s suggest using this free app. It works amazing.
> 
> [https://www.plantsnap.com](https://www.plantsnap.com)

Thanks for that! It identified the first one immediately as aeonia arboreum, and the second after some finagling as pilea spruceana, both of which seems to be correct.

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**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-my-new-plants/838165/4 "2019-08-06T00:07:11Z")

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The Aeonium (not aeonia) will need all the sun you can give it. In frost-free locations like coastal California it is a full-sun outdoor succulent. Likes it pretty dry. Pileas – which come in an astonishing variety of leaf forms – will need bright indirect light only, it is a tropical understory plant. Can’t take direct sun.