🌱 Morphology
  Perennial succulent with a compact habit, featuring a very short stem and numerous fleshy leaves arranged in a rosette. The leaves are long, narrow, almost cylindrical or slightly convex, with pointed tips and a very characteristic upward curve. Young leaves are covered by a dense layer of white hairs that gives them an extraordinary silvery appearance; this covering may wear away partially with age, revealing the green tissue. It forms clumps of rosettes that can reach about 20–30 cm in height and width. The contrast between the silvery foliage and its yellow flowers is particularly attractive.

🌍 Origin, habitat and family
Family Asteraceae, subfamily Asteroideae, tribe Senecioneae.

It is endemic to South Africa and is distributed from the Little Karoo, in the Western Cape province, to the Kei River, in the Eastern Cape. It grows on sandstone ledges, rocky slopes and dry valleys, on poor and very well-drained mineral soils. The covering of white hairs reflects part of the solar radiation and helps protect the leaves from overheating. Its accepted botanical name in South African references is Caputia scaposa (DC.) B.Nord. & Pelser.

❄️ Temperature — USDA 9a
It tolerates brief drops in temperature below freezing if the substrate remains dry, but it is recommended to protect it from severe frosts and prolonged moisture during cold periods. Excellent drainage is essential to keep its roots healthy.

☀️ Lighting
It needs plenty of light and can be grown in full sun after gradual acclimatization. A target PAR DLI of 15–25 mol/m²/day is recommended. Abundant lighting promotes compact growth and the persistence of the silvery appearance of the leaves.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Opportunistic. It can grow for much of the year if favorable temperatures are available. It is recommended to water thoroughly and let the substrate dry out completely before watering again. Although it tolerates drought, it appreciates water during active growth; in winter, watering should be reduced without keeping the substrate moist for prolonged periods.

🌸 Flowering
In spring and summer, it develops long branched peduncles, up to 30–45 cm, that rise above the rosettes and bear several yellow flower heads resembling small daisies. The flowering creates a striking contrast with the silvery-white foliage.

🌿 Nutrition
During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, with a high supply of potassium and bioavailable calcium. Reduce or suspend fertilization when growth slows down.

9x9 cm gourmet black pot

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