Q: We moved a succulent from a shaded area in our yard and now it has taken off and grown very large. It is now producing massive numbers of babies. It looks prehistoric. Can you identify it for me?

A: I suspected it was the Mother of Thousands, Bryophyllum daigremontianum, when you described it and the pictures you sent solidified that fact. This plant has many common names and in Australia, where it is classified as a noxious and invasive weed, it is called Mother of Millions. It has not been classified as an invasive here probably because it generally gets cold enough to keep it in check. However, I would be mindful of the massive numbers of offspring it produces which could become difficult to control should we have a couple of mild winters back to back. Its cold hardiness zone is 9b-11 and we are just above that zone which means this Mother of Thousands could possibly continue to reproduce without interruption. Our major concern would be to keep it from finding its way to our beaches or wildlife areas. Perhaps you might consider putting this plant in a pot and placing it on back porch or patio instead of planting it in the ground. One other note, all parts of the plant are poisonous so be vigilant with small children and pets.

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