Adromischus marianiae f. herrei | Wrinkled elephant ear
€10,60
🌱 Morphology
Its surface is covered with very characteristic irregular bumps and warts, which can give it the appearance of a small raisin. They are green, greyish-green, reddish, reddish-brown, or purple depending on the clone, the season, and the light intensity. They are normally spotless and may develop a thin waxy layer with age. It is a perennial, very slow-growing, small, and cespitose succulent. It forms a short, thickened base from which numerous short, erect or decumbent stems emerge, which can reach approximately 10 cm in height. Over time, it develops a tuberous root that acts as a storage organ. The leaves are very fleshy, short, approximately 1.5–3.5 cm long, ranging from almost spherical to oblong, obovate, or oblanceolate, and have a rounded or slightly grooved section on the upper side.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
A form currently included by Kew in Adromischus marianiae var. immaculatus, family Crassulaceae. This variety as a whole is distributed from southern Namaqualand to the western Roggeveld mountains in the Cape provinces, while the form traditionally called herrei is associated with Little Namaqualand. It grows in arid environments, frequently occupying cracks and small pockets of soil in granitic hills, often protected among rocks or under shrubs. The name Adromischus herrei and the form A. marianiae f. herrei are synonyms of the currently accepted taxon.
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9b–11b
It can tolerate minimum temperatures down to -3°C. It is a plant of arid environments that tolerates cool temperatures when kept dry, but it is sensitive to frost and especially to the combination of cold and humidity. It is recommended to protect it from prolonged frost and keep the substrate completely dry during cold spells. High temperatures should also not be accompanied by persistent humidity around the roots.
☀️ Lighting
High lighting is recommended, approximately 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR as a target guide. Good lighting keeps the stems compact and promotes the appearance of reddish, brown, and purple hues. It tolerates direct sun when acclimated, but during extreme heat, it may be preferable to partially filter the most intense radiation and provide excellent ventilation.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
It exhibits opportunistic behavior, with growth especially favorable during periods of moderate temperatures, particularly spring and autumn. Intense summer heat can cause a marked slowdown, while growth also decreases in the cold winter. During the active period, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry completely before the next watering. During the hottest weeks, watering should be widely spaced and prolonged humidity avoided. In winter, if temperatures are low, it is recommended to keep it practically dry and gradually resume watering when conditions become favorable again.
🌸 Flowering
It produces an erect terminal inflorescence, in the form of a relatively narrow thyrse, which can reach approximately 10–25 cm in height. The flower buds are tubular and slightly grooved. The flowers are about 1–1.2 cm long and have a tubular corolla pale green with pinkish hues, whose lobes may show purple margins. In cultivation, it can flower from late spring to summer, although the date depends considerably on environmental conditions.
🌿 Nutrition
During active growth periods, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering to favor the development of the inflorescence.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
Plant in a 9x9 cm gourmet black pot
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