€7,95

🌱 Morphology
Small, very compact perennial succulent, with a thickened, tuberous base from which numerous short, erect branches emerge. During flowering, it can reach about 20 cm in height, although it remains much lower during vegetative growth. The leaves are fleshy, obovate to orbicular, occasionally oblong or oblanceolate, approximately 2–3 × 1.2–2 cm, dorsiventrally flattened, generally somewhat concave on the upper side and convex on the lower side. They feature a thin, horny margin that runs along the entire perimeter of the leaf, a characteristic especially useful for distinguishing it from related species. The usual coloration is greyish-green, with irregular purple, maroon, or reddish-brown spots. In ‘Calico Heart’, these spots can be especially intense and the leaves tend to be somewhat thicker and more compact.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Family Crassulaceae. A species native to South Africa and Namibia, distributed across the Northern Cape, Free State, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape. It is mainly found in semi-arid interior regions, especially in the Great Karoo and Nama-Karoo, growing among rocks, crevices, and small shelters where it is protected from extreme conditions. Its relatively wide distribution explains part of the species' variability.

‘Calico Hearts’ is a horticultural designation applied to certain forms of A. trigynus and is not an independent botanical entity. It should not be confused with Adromischus maculatus, a species with which it has frequently been mislabeled.

❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 9b–11b. It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −3 ºC, provided the specimen is perfectly dry and protected from humidity and prolonged exposure to cold. Low temperatures combined with a damp substrate significantly increase the risk of rot in the roots and the tuberous base.

☀️ Lighting
Indicative DLI PAR: 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹. It requires intense lighting to maintain compact growth and develop the purple and maroon shades of the leaves. Abundant light or gentle sun is recommended, with progressive acclimatization. During the Madrid summer, it may be advisable to filter the sun during the central hours of the day to avoid leaf scorch and overheating. Horticultural literature also notes good performance under intense filtered light.

💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
It is an Adromischus from interior regions with summer rainfall, so its activity is mainly favored during spring and summer, when temperatures allow for growth and water is naturally available. During the active period, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. In autumn, watering should be gradually spaced out, and during winter, especially with low temperatures, it should be kept almost dry. In extreme heat, it may also slow down its activity, so it should not be automatically assumed that more heat means a greater need for water.

🌸 Flowering
It produces a thin, elevated inflorescence, approximately 15–35 cm long, with small cymes of one or two flowers. The floral buds have five angles and a pale greenish-yellow floral tube covered by a characteristic pruina. The lobes are whitish or slightly pink, potentially acquiring a more intense pink tone towards the throat. Flowering when cultivated in Spain is approximately between July and September.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE® Suculentas is recommended, applying it after watering and avoiding fertilization during winter dormancy or when the plant is subjected to extreme temperatures. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Floración.

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

9x9 cm gourmet black pot

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