Anacampseros filamentosa subsp. tomentosa (A.Berger) Gerbaulet 

🌱 Morphology

 A groundcover from Namibia...A small, slow-growing perennial succulent that develops a thickened base and fleshy storage roots. It forms short, upright stems, about 5–10 cm tall, densely covered with overlapping leaves. The leaves are small, thick, ovate, and slightly globose, dark green in color, with a somewhat wrinkled surface. Its most distinctive feature is the abundance of fine white filaments, resembling cobwebs, growing between the leaves. These filaments are modified axillary stipules, not leaf hairs, and give the plant its woolly, cottony appearance. The combination of compact leaves and white filaments creates a highly ornamental contrast.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family

This succulent is primarily associated with Namibia and the far northwestern tip of South Africa, especially the arid areas of Bushmanland. It grows on rocky slopes and stony ground in the succulent Karoo region, where it can be found in crevices and small pockets of mineral soil.

Family: Anacampserotaceae. 

❄️ Temperature — USDA 10a

It tolerates minimum temperatures of −1.1°C, which corresponds to the lower limit of USDA zone 10a. It is sensitive to frost and cold, damp conditions, so it should be grown in a sheltered position during winter. In cold conditions with wet substrate, the thickened roots can easily rot.

☀️ Lighting

It needs plenty of light to maintain compact growth and good leaf and filament formation. A very bright position with gentle sun or direct sunlight after gradual acclimatization is recommended. In summer, it should be protected from the most intense radiation if temperatures are high. As a general guideline, a PAR DLI of 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ can be used.

💧 Growth cycle and watering

Summer dormancy. Its vegetative activity takes place mainly during the cooler and milder periods of the year, while intense summer heat can cause a significant slowdown. Water moderately during growth, allowing the substrate to dry out between waterings. During the hot summer, waterings should be spaced far apart, preventing the roots from remaining wet while the plant is dormant. Excess water is one of the main risks when growing it.

🌸 Flowering

It produces short inflorescences that protrude slightly above the foliage. The flowers are relatively large compared to the size of the plant, about 1.5–2 cm in diameter, with five petals ranging from deep pink to purplish-red and numerous stamens. Flowering generally takes place during the summer, although it may vary depending on the climate and growing conditions. The flowers open during daylight hours and have a limited lifespan.

🌿 Nutrition

During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, applied moderately and according to the product instructions. It does not need heavy fertilization: too much nitrogen can promote overly rapid growth and less resilient tissues. During summer dormancy, reduce or stop feeding.

9x9 cm pot

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with substrate enriched with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.