About
Cotyledon tomentosa subsp. tomentosa is a perennial succulent shrub that typically grows to about 70 cm tall. Its thick leaves, measuring up to 3.5 cm in length, are densely covered with fine hairs and feature 3 to 10 distinct dark-red serrations at their tips. In the summer, it produces small, bell-shaped flowers that are orange-yellow in color and appear on short peduncles.
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
- South Africa (Cape)
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 leaf cuttings
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to mealybugs, aphids and scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free