Fenestraria rhopalophylla subsp. aurantiaca | Baby toes
€10,60
🌱 Morphology
Small, perennial, stemless, and clumping succulent that forms clumps of erect, very fleshy leaves resembling small fingers or clubs. The leaves, ranging from green to grayish-green, feature a characteristic translucent window at the tip that allows light to reach the photosynthetic tissues located beneath the surface. In its natural habitat, it may remain almost completely buried in the sand, leaving only the windows exposed.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is distributed from Namibia to the northwest of the Cape Province in South Africa, mainly in arid coastal areas. It lives on sandy or calcareous terrain with very scarce rainfall and can grow partially buried by sand. It belongs to the Aizoaceae family, subfamily Ruschioideae.
❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 9b–11. It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −4 ºC, provided the substrate remains dry. The indicated hardiness comes from horticultural references; the RHS classifies it as H2, so prolonged frosts should be avoided.
☀️ Lighting
It requires very intense lighting and can be grown in full sun, avoiding only excessive heat buildup during the hottest hours of summer. During active growth, a target of DLI PAR >20 mol/m²/day is recommended. The translucent windows on the leaves are a fundamental adaptation for capturing light when a large part of the plant remains buried.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Summer dormancy. Its activity is concentrated in the cooler seasons. During the active period, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry completely before watering again. During summer, water supply should be significantly reduced, especially avoiding waterlogging and prolonged humidity.
🌸 Flowering
Solitary or clustered flowers, resembling daisies, with an intense golden yellow color, which develop on relatively long peduncles. The aurantiaca subspecies is distinguished precisely by producing golden flowers, compared to the white flowers of subsp. rhopalophylla. Flowering occurs from late summer through autumn and can extend into winter; in Madrid, approximately September–November.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and potassium is recommended, such as Desert CHOICE® Aizoáceas, applied during watering and avoiding excessive nitrogen input.
This is an inimitable xerophytic plant grown in Madrid in a technological square pot, with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.
7 × 7 cm gourmet black pot.
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The photo description specifies the plant's measurements, but this can 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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