Identifying Heirloom Houseplants: Piggyback Plant, Flowering Cacti, and Jelly Bean Succulent

1. Green Pointed Leaves with Baby Plantlets on Edges

Likely Piggyback Plant (Tolmiea menziesii). Many plants produce adventitious plantlets on leaf margins (e.g., Kalanchoe daigremontiana, Saxifraga stolonifera), but Piggyback is the classic houseplant with this trait. Image | Info

2. Fuzzy Cactus with One Large Orange/Red Bloom Annually

Several candidates:

• Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus spp.) – Images
• Adenium obesum (Desert Rose) – Photo
• Stapelia gettleffii (Carrion Flower) – Photo

Browse the Cactus Museum retailer list for hundreds more photos.

3. Jelly Bean Plant (Leaves Look Like Jelly Beans, Fall Off and Root)

Sedum morganianum (Burro’s Tail / Jelly Bean Plant). Succulent leaves detach easily and root to form new plants. Wikipedia photo.

Next Steps

Compare photos to your memories. Many heirloom plants are still widely available today.