Orbea decaisneana (Lem.) Bruyns

🌱 Morphology

 Apestosillla, she...A succulent perennial plant with a creeping habit, forming extensive groups and carpets of fleshy stems. The short stems have an approximately quadrangular cross-section and measure between 1 and 4 cm in length, featuring four rows of conical tubercles topped with small sharp points. Their colouration is greyish-green, mottled with brown, purplish or purple patches, a combination that allows it to blend in with the stony ground where it grows. The flowers appear near the ends of the stems and stand out with their bell-shaped corolla, which is cream or yellowish on the outside and dark purple on the inside, with tiny whitish papillae that give it a unique texture.

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family

Native to the arid regions of northern and western Africa, it is found from Morocco and Algeria to Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Sudan. It grows in Sahelian areas and along the edges of the Sahara, from areas near sea level to mountain sites at altitudes of around 2,000 m. It can grow in stabilised dune sands, dry grasslands and stony soils, on both granitic and limestone outcrops. It is adapted to distinct seasonal rainfall patterns and long periods of drought.

Family: Apocynaceae · Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae · Tribe: Ceropegieae · Subtribe: Stapeliinae.

❄️ Temperature — USDA 10a

It tolerates minimum temperatures of −1.1 °C as a climatic reference for the USDA 10a zone, although this should not be interpreted as a guarantee of frost resistance. It comes from warm and dry regions, but can withstand brief temperature drops if the growing medium remains completely dry. For safe cultivation, it is recommended to keep it preferably above 10 °C during the winter, protected from damp cold.

☀️ Lighting

It needs plenty of light to develop compact stems and promote flowering. Exposure with intense light, early-morning sunlight or bright partial shade is recommended. The strongest direct summer sun, especially during the middle of the day, can cause scorch. Good lighting also helps to intensify the purplish hues of the stems.

💧 Growth cycle and watering

Winter dormancy. During spring and summer, when it is actively growing, it is recommended to water deeply and allow the growing medium to dry out completely before watering again. In autumn, watering should be gradually reduced and, during the winter, it should be kept almost dry if temperatures are low. In warm environments, it may need some light and occasional watering. The main risk is the combination of cold, persistent dampness and poor ventilation, which encourages the rotting of stems and roots.

🌸 Flowering

Flowering usually occurs during the warm months, mainly in summer and autumn. The flowers, about 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter, have a bell-shaped corolla with five lobes, with a dark purple or reddish-brown interior, covered with tiny papillae topped with fine whitish points. The contrast is reminiscent of a dark star and explains the common name black star.. The flowers attract pollinating flies and can give off an unpleasant smell, characteristic of many species in this subtribe.

🌿 Nutrition

During active growth, it is recommended to apply Desert CHOICE® Succulents, in moderate doses and with the growing medium previously moistened. Balanced nutrition promotes the formation of new stems and adequate flowering without stimulating excessively soft growth. Fertilising should be suspended during the winter rest period.

Gourmet black 9x9 cm pot

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