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korina_gw

How do I tell E. 'Faded Jade' from E. 'Spearmint'?

korina
19 years ago

I have a noid Episcia that could be either one. Googling was inconclusive, so is there a way to tell?

Korina

Comments (13)

  • robitaillenancy1
    19 years ago

    I have the same problem with Karlyn and Ronnie.

    Sorry, can't help.

    Nancy

  • komi
    19 years ago

    I'm terrible at telling things apart. It might be worth giving LyndonLyon a call to see if they can help. They have pictures of both on their website.

  • korina
    Original Author
    19 years ago

    Thanks, Komi -- that's how I narrowed it down to the two.

    Grr! Argh!

    Korina

    PS D'you think maybe I'm being a little too anal?

  • larry_b
    19 years ago

    Hi Korina,

    Not really. I personally want to know the names of all my plants if it is possible.

    Larry

  • jon_d
    19 years ago

    Hi all, (I'm back after six months). Korina you just have a green and silver episcia. Good luck on ID'ing it to a named variety. You may come up with a good ID or it may always be questionable, since episcias change, depending on culture, time of year, mood etc. Spearmint generally makes bigger leaves and is vigorous. Mine, which I lost, came from Lyons. It was really nice, a simple silver and green pattern--very fresh looking. Faded Jade is one I grew years ago (an old Lyon's hybrid); it was noted for being a compact grower--which in episcias means generally smaller leaves and shorter stolons. But. for leaf pattern I would have to see them both again--the memory fails. And, there are other green and silver varieties out there. So, that is why I say that you may have to just accept its unnamed status. Although these all have the standard cupreata flowers, there are subtle differences to some of the cultivars so perhaps these two might have something that you could use to help, when comparing to a photo.

    Jon

  • korina
    Original Author
    19 years ago

    Thanks, all. You'd think I'd be used to this by now with all my noid AVs. It started as a stolon someone claimed came from a friend's yard (she said skeptically). I planted it *all* wrong, not knowing a thing about Episcias, and just recently dug it up; it was in such bad shape I took it apart into five cuttings, which are all rooted now. I'm just trying to get my 'local' AV club interested so they'll take them off my hands.

    Jon, it's probably not Faded Jade; I just measured the one full-grown leaf and it's 3" long. Not exactly compact. :-)

    Thanks again, everyone. I'll just relax and enjoy it.

    Korina

  • linary
    19 years ago

    Can anyone tell me where I could order a good episcia. How are Rob's Violets? Or Victoria Violets?
    This will be my first one.
    Thanks.

  • jon_d
    19 years ago

    I have bought plants from Lyndon Lyon's at convention plant sales. They do a fantastic job with everything they grow. Their episcias are very full and lush in little pots. They also have a nice list of varieties though not a long list like Marcia Belisle (who offers about 130 named varieties). Robs is well known for quality too. I don't know about the violet dealer.

    There are links to on-line nurseries on the "Suppliers" page on the AGGS web site, as well as mailing addresses for the others.

    Jon

    Here is a link that might be useful: AGGS homepage

  • mwedzi
    19 years ago

    The one sold to me as Faded Jade also has large leaves. It doesn't seem particularly compact at all, and I think I bought it from a reputable guy. You may never know. I say just pick one. I think Faded Jade is more much commonly distributed than Spearmint, so if you play the odds you probably got Faded Jade.

  • jon_d
    19 years ago

    That's absolutely true. 'Faded Jade' is known to grow slightly smaller leaves but can be just as big as others. Episcias respond so much to culture, lighting etc. that is is hard to say what they are, as they change in size, coloring, and even pattern, depending on so many factors.

  • mwedzi
    19 years ago

    Hi. there's a spearmint on ebay now. It looks rather different from Faded Jade. It looks like the outer parts are darker green than Faded Jade, almost brown. I just got a Spearmint stolon yesterday, and I did see some faint brown lines, but wasn't going to say anything until it got bigger, since stolons often look different from older leaves. But compare the ebay picture of Spearmint, and compare the picture I posted of Faded Jade in the gallery, and see if either matches what you have.

    Here is a link that might be useful: ebay spearmint

  • susancarol
    19 years ago

    Thanks mwedzi. That's how I got outbid! LOL! Thanks for telling everyone.

    Susan

  • bigred
    17 years ago

    try this link...loads of epsicia pictures. Helped me id a couple of my epsicia correctly.

    P