€10,60

📍 A natural rarity worthy of admiration. A succulent that is a must-have in the home of the most original collectors. It will always look spectacular in a pot.

🌱 Morphology
Small perennial succulent with compact growth and a very unique appearance. It forms erect stems up to about 20 cm tall during flowering, with few branches, generally from the base or towards the upper part. The leaves are sessile, broadly ovate, approximately 5–8 mm long by 6–10 mm wide, concave on the upper surface and convex on the lower. They are arranged very close together around the stem, with their bases partially fused, forming a characteristic quadrangular column up to about 2 cm in diameter. The exposed surfaces have a fine, soft, velvety pubescence, especially visible on the underside. They are green or yellowish-green, often tinged with red at the apex.
Its appearance may resemble Crassula plegmatoides, but C. columella is distinguished by its velvety leaves and its branching habit.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Endemic to the far northwestern tip of South Africa, in the coastal mountains near Port Nolloth, within the Northern Cape province. It grows in crevices of quartzite outcrops and on gentle slopes, preferably facing south or southwest. It is a species closely linked to these rocky microhabitats of the Richtersveld and Namaqualand. It belongs to the Crassulaceae family. The species is listed as Rare on the South African Red List due to its very restricted distribution and the small number of known subpopulations.

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 9b–11b
It is a species adapted to an arid but relatively mild climate, conditioned by the oceanic influence of the South African west coast. It is recommended to keep it protected from intense frosts and, especially, from low temperatures combined with moisture in the substrate. In winter, it can tolerate low temperatures if it remains dry and well-ventilated.

☀️ Lighting
It requires very high lighting to maintain its compact size and the characteristic columnar arrangement of its leaves. Indicative DLI PAR: 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹. Insufficient lighting can cause longer internodes, loss of compactness, and a greener coloration.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Summer dormancy. It is a species native to the winter rainfall areas of the Richtersveld and Namaqualand, with growth primarily during the cooler periods of autumn and spring and a marked slowing down during the dry summer.
During active phases, it is recommended to water abundantly, then allowing the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. During the summer, especially with high temperatures, water intake should be significantly reduced; it can be kept practically dry while in dormancy.

🌸 Flowering
It produces a branched terminal inflorescence with small sessile flowers grouped in dense dichasia. The sepals are green or reddish, and the petals, about 2–2.5 mm, are cream to pale yellow, with brown anthers. In cultivation in Spain, flowering can occur from October to December depending on temperatures and the cultivation regime.

🌿 Nutrition
During periods of active growth, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, applied after watering and with the substrate previously moistened. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering to promote the formation of inflorescences.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot, with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and bio-fungicides.

📏 Gourmet xerophyte in a 9x9 cm pot.

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the specimen sent 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 plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.

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