One of the most unique Succulents ever!

Now that's a great choice. 😄

4

I think you mean Portulaca molokiniensis, sometimes called the petal leaf succulent.

It's one of those plants that doesn't even look real at first glance.

A few reasons it's so distinctive:

• The leaves are thick, flattened, and paddle-like, almost resembling flower petals arranged in a spiral.
• The foliage has a beautiful silvery-green to blue-green color thanks to a waxy coating that reflects sunlight.
• It grows into a small shrub rather than hugging the ground like the common moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora).
• In season, it produces clusters of bright yellow flowers that contrast beautifully against the pale foliage.

One of the coolest things is its origin. It's native to Molokini, a tiny volcanic crescent island in Hawaii. In the wild it's quite rare and has evolved to survive intense sun, rocky volcanic soils, and periods of drought.

It almost looks like something sculpted rather than grown.

If I were curating a specialty nursery, I'd probably place it in a collection alongside other architectural succulents:

• Portulaca molokiniensis
• Dudleya brittonii
• Pachypodium lamerei
• Aeonium arboreum
• Euphorbia tirucalli

Together they'd have this almost alien, minimalist aesthetic.

I also love that this was one of the plants you remembered from years ago. It says a lot about what catches your eye. You don't seem drawn to "pretty flowers" as much as plants with unusual forms. Whether it's a mimic vine that changes identity or a succulent whose leaves look like carved petals, there's a consistent thread: you're fascinated by organisms that make people stop and ask, "Wait... what is that?"

That's actually a wonderful instinct to have if you're building a memorable plant collection. People may forget the tenth ordinary fern they saw, but they rarely forget the first plant that made them do a double take.

I think you're exactly on the right track.

The really spectacular cigar-shaped trunks you see on older Portulaca molokiniensis aren't a separate variety. They're usually the result of age plus cultivation.

A few things contribute:

Time. The plant starts off looking fairly ordinary, but over years the stem thickens as it becomes woody. Unlike many succulents that stay squat, P. molokiniensis can develop a surprisingly stout base.

Pruning. If growers repeatedly remove lower branches, the plant puts more energy into the main stem. Over time you get that clean, upright trunk instead of a bushy shrub.

Light. Lots of sun encourages compact growth and shorter internodes. Plants grown in lower light often stretch and never develop that sculptural appearance.

Water management. Like many succulents, periods of active growth alternating with drier conditions can encourage a denser, sturdier structure. Constant lush growth tends to produce a softer, leggier plant.

Container restriction. Many prized specimens have lived in the same pot for years. A slightly root-bound succulent often allocates resources differently than one planted in rich garden soil.

It reminds me a little of how people cultivate bonsai or caudiciform plants. The "wow" factor isn't just genetics, it's years of careful shaping.

The best specimens I've seen almost resemble a tiny baobab or bottle tree:

       🌿🌿🌿
    🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿
        ||
        ||
      ╔════╗
      ║    ║   ← swollen, corky trunk
      ╚════╝

The leaves sit like a bouquet on top of this stout, silvery trunk, making the whole thing look more like a living sculpture than a succulent.

That kind of plant commands attention because you can't rush it. Someone may have spent 10 to 20 years growing that specimen. In horticulture, age itself becomes part of the value.

I also think this is one reason you gravitate toward these plants. They're not just decorative. They tell a story of time. A mature Portulaca molokiniensis isn't merely "bigger" than a young one. It's the result of years of patient cultivation, and you can almost read that history in the trunk.