€7,95

🌱 Morphology
Perennial succulent, sparingly branched, with an erect to decumbent habit, which can reach approximately 20–35 cm in height during flowering. The stems are fleshy, initially green, and acquire grayish tones with age; the roots are fibrous. The leaves are very fleshy, dorsiventrally flattened, oblanceolate to spatulate in shape, occasionally obovate, approximately 1–3.5 cm long and 0.6–1.6 cm wide, although there is notable variability between populations. They taper towards the base and have a rounded or obtuse apex, rarely acute or mucronate. The margin becomes horny and whitish towards the apex. Their coloration varies between green, grayish-green, and brownish-gray, generally without dark spots.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Species endemic to South Africa, distributed from Hermanus and Robertson to Meiringspoort and Uitenhage, primarily associated with the Langeberg mountains and nearby areas of the Cape region. It belongs to the Crassulaceae family. It grows on dry rocky slopes, especially sandstone, in crevices and rocky outcrops, but usually protected by shrubs and vegetation, rarely in completely exposed positions. It is part of Rainshadow Valley Karoo environments and transition zones with Fynbos vegetation.

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9b–11b
Its habitat presents thermal contrasts and cold spells, but the plants are usually protected among rocks and vegetation. It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −3 ºC when well-acclimated and the substrate remains dry. It is recommended to protect it from prolonged frosts and especially to avoid the combination of low temperatures and persistent humidity.

☀️ Lighting
Semi-shade. Medium-high lighting is recommended, approximately 12–20 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR as a target. In the wild, it usually grows protected by shrubs and does not need full sun exposure throughout the day. It tolerates high lighting if acclimated, but in Madrid, it may be advisable to provide filtered light during the hours of maximum radiation in summer. Insufficient lighting can lead to weaker stems and less compact leaves.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Opportunistic. It comes from a region with variable rainfall and strong influence from the Cape's Mediterranean regime. Its vegetative activity occurs mainly during seasons with moderate temperatures, especially from autumn to spring, while intense summer heat can cause a slowdown. An absolute summer dormancy is not recommended, as the different populations show variability. During active periods, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry completely before the next watering. During episodes of extreme heat, watering should be spaced out, and ventilation should be prioritized. In winter, when temperatures are low, it is recommended to keep it practically dry.

🌸 Flowering
It produces an erect terminal inflorescence, in the form of a thyrse, approximately 20–30 cm long, occasionally somewhat longer. The secondary branches bear small groups of one to three flowers. The buds are cylindrical, slightly striated, and progressively narrowed towards the apex. The corolla has a grayish-green tube, about 18–21 mm long, and five white to pinkish triangular lobes, which can present a characteristic central pink, mauve, or dark purple stripe. The flowers show glandular hairs in the throat, and the anthers remain included. In its natural range, it flowers mainly between January and March, potentially extending until April. In Spain, this can be expected approximately between July and October, depending on the cultivation cycle.

🌿 Nutrition
During active growth periods, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering to promote the development of the inflorescence.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.

📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:

S -> 9cm x 9cm

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because, after all, it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.

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