Plants that mark time
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CLAUDETTE POULIOT
This Christmas cactus is 72 years old!
If longevity records fascinate us, tenacious plants are above all references to a more or less recent past, a memory maintained by their mere presence. They clearly have tough skin if we rely on those who went through the cold of the ice crisis of 1998, through a prolonged lack of water or quite simply through a long indifference. Your emails list more than 40 species and varieties of houseplants, from schefflera to African violet, crotons, ficus, ferns, cyclamen, euphorbias (many of which are confused with cacti, moreover), without forgetting the Christmas cacti with their faithful annual flowering.
From 50 to 100 years old
The prize for longevity goes to these famous mother-in-laws’ tongues, not killable, many say, these Sanseveria trifasciatoften installed in the corner of a room, almost in the shadows, always discreet, rarely in flower even if Isabelle Émond’s, a 50-year-old specimen, puts on a show twice a year. At 80 years old, Ghislaine Bélanger’s sanseveria also flowers regularly. “This plant was in the house when my mother started dating my father in 1944,” she says. I have kept it since my 97-year-old mother was in a CHSLD. »
As for Denise Bruneau, she inherited a mother-in-law’s language (Sanseveria hyacinthoides) from… her mother-in-law born in 1906. “As a gift at her wedding, she had had the plant for a very long time,” she wrote. When I received it when he died in 2002, it was not my cup of tea! My youngest daughter, who had a mad love for him, made me appreciate him. Today at 80, I still take care of it. » A hundred-year-old sanseveria!
Christmas cacti also stand out. “He was already in the house when I was born 67 years ago,” says Edith Fraser.
It blooms every year during the holiday season. It reminds us of the presents under the Christmas tree. It is the living memory of my mother.
Edith Fraser
Claudette Pouliot’s oldest plant is also a 72-year-old Christmas cactus that belonged to her mother. “It’s the story of my parents who died in a car accident in 1951. My mother Georgine was 23 years old and I was 2 years old. My mother’s sister gave me the plant when I got married. We affectionately call her Georgine. »
Surprises
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MANON SOULIGNY
This oxalis has reached half a century of existence.
Some nice surprises also among your testimonies, like a 60-year-old croton belonging to France Clavet; a fern over 70 years old from Lucie Bourdon; a 47-year-old rex begonia from Dominique Mondou; a half-century old oxalis by Manon Souligny; and a dieffenbachia by Hélène Laperrière, who is still growing at 60 years old despite a sometimes tormented life. Finally, Suzanne Claveau has a cyclamen given at the birth of her son, now 38 years old, who has gone through clumsy repotting, undue droughts, a thrips infestation and, recently, an attack of fusarium. “An almost autonomous plant,” she insists.
Chopin for schefflera
PHOTO PROVIDED BY FRANCINE LAVOIE
This schefflera must be 65 years old and he loves Chopin!
“My oldest plant of the schefflera genus must be 65 years old. My sister and I gave it to Dad for Christmas. We bought it from Steinberg and I remember being afraid that it would freeze when we brought it home wrapped up in our two scarves. She loved my father’s care and, obviously, the music of Chopin and Bach,” shares Francine Lavoie.
She is happy today after having experienced episodes of depression over time and we avoid rushing her, like an old friend.
Francine Lavoie
Tiny but durable
PHOTO PROVIDED BY FRANÇOIS NOËL
A tiny, but endearing plant!
” My Hawortha fasciata is the dean of my entire plant collection. It was in a little 2 inch yellow and white plastic pot on my window sill a little over 40 years ago. He has had to face several insect infestations and several moves, including one to Toronto, in addition to withstanding periods of drought. I remain very attached to this tiny plant,” says François Noël.
Hoya tormented
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOHANNE VÉZINA
This hoya, which has four decades, gave its first flowers at the age of 30.
“My mother remembered that this hoya was in her house when she was little, in the 1930s,” writes Colette Baribeau. I got it back in 1984. It spends the summer on the porch, the ants colonize it, educate their aphids there. Often trimmed and even almost shaved. » Also 40 years old, Johanne Vézina’s hoya gave its first flowers at the age of 30, fragrant flowers that seem to be made of porcelain.
There are winter days when I’m pretty tired of it, but I think of my mother who died in 2000, I sigh and… we continue the adventure.
Johanne Vézina
Precious plants
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DANIELE BOUTET
Precious plants, in memory of loved ones who died too soon
“These two plants, a dracaena and a spathiphyllum, are 35 and 33 years old,” writes Danièle Boutet. These are my most precious possessions. I received these plants when my children were born, both of whom died of muscular dystrophy, my son at the age of 18 months in 1989 and my daughter at the age of 6 in 1996.”
All testimony has been edited for brevity and space.