About
This evergreen succulent shrub reaches a height of up to 100 cm. The leaves are oval, grey-green, and covered in a white waxy layer, with some displaying a red margin. In late summer and autumn, it produces small, bell-shaped flowers that are orange-red, appearing on stems that can grow as long as 70 cm.
About the genus
Cotyledon consists of succulent perennials and shrubs characterized by simple, opposite leaves. These plants produce nodding, bell-shaped flowers in shades of red, orange, or yellow, which are arranged in dense panicles.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Cactus Succulent, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Patio and container plants
- Native to
- S. Africa
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow under glass in a standard cactus compost, in full light. Provide low humidity. Water freely when in growth and keep just moist at other times. Apply a dilute low nitrogen fertilizer fortnightly during late spring and summer. Keep almost dry in the winter. Stand plants outside during the summer months. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for further details
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed or from stem cuttings
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to mealybugs, vine weevil and aphids
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free