€7,95

🌱 Morphology
 Small perennial succulent with short, fleshy, and highly branched stems, about 2–4 cm long, which can develop numerous aerial roots. The leaves are obtriangular-lanceolate, narrower than those of A. cristatus var. cristatus, fleshy, and generally somewhat wavy. They present a characteristic horny fringe on the apical margin, approximately as wide as the leaf itself. The color varies from grayish-green to brownish-green and can acquire reddish tones under high light. The leaves may have glandular hairs, especially when young, although this trait is variable. Leaf morphology can change considerably between populations.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Family Crassulaceae. It is a variety endemic to the Eastern Cape, South Africa, restricted mainly to the area between Alexandria, Grahamstown, and East London. It grows on rocky outcrops with very shallow soil, where the roots take advantage of small accumulations of organic matter and moisture between the rocks. It is found at altitudes of approximately 50 to 500 m, within a subtropical environment.

❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 9b–11b. It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −3 ºC, provided it remains dry and protected from prolonged frosts. As it comes from a subtropical and relatively low area, it should not be considered a succulent especially resistant to cold and humidity.

☀️ Lighting
Indicative PAR DLI: 12–20 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹. It needs abundant lighting to maintain compact growth and develop the reddish tones of the leaves. It can be grown in mild sun or very intense light, but it is advisable to acclimatize it progressively to direct sun, especially after a period of protected cultivation. In summer, with very high temperatures, protection from the most intense sun during the central hours of the day is advised.

💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
Its rocky habitat and very shallow soil favor a cycle conditioned more by the punctual availability of moisture than by an extremely marked dormant season. It is recommended to keep it active during periods of moderate temperatures, carrying out abundant watering and allowing the substrate to dry completely before the next application. In summer, it may slow down during episodes of intense heat, and in winter, with low temperatures, watering should be reduced considerably. The combination of cold and wet substrate should be especially avoided.

🌸 Flowering
The inflorescence emerges above the plant, and the flowers present a throat provided with some hairs, a characteristic that helps differentiate this variety from A. cristatus var. cristatus. The flowers are small, with light tones, and natural flowering is concentrated between June and August, depending on temperatures and the timing of vegetative activation.

🌿 Nutrition
During periods of active growth, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, applied after watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering. It is not recommended to fertilize during dormancy caused by intense cold or extreme heat.

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

Xerophyte in a 9 x 9 cm green pot.

Approximate plant height: 3.5 cm.

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