Scientific Name
Adenia glauca Schinz
Scientific Classification
Family: Passifloraceae
Subfamily: Passifloroideae
Tribe: Passifloreae
Genus: Adenia
Etymology
The specific epithet "glauca" (pronounced "GLAW-kuh") means "bluish-green" or "gray-green" and refers to the color of the leaves.
Origin
Adenia glauca is native to native to southern Africa. It occurs in rocky places or on sandy soil in the Transvaal province of South Africa and southeastern Botswana.
Description
Adenia glauca is an attractive, sometimes shrub-like climber that forms a greenish, bottle-shaped trunk almost immediately after seed germination, which keeps getting fatter as it grows. The caudex is fleshy and smooth, growing up to 3.3 feet (1 m) tall and 16 inches (40 cm) in diameter. In early spring, the caudex produces numerous stems with greyish, glaucous, or purplish-grey leaves. The stems can grow up to 10 feet (3 m) long. The leaves are deeply 5-lobed, suborbicular in outline, measuring up to 4.8 inches (12 cm) in length and nearly equal in width. They are larger near the base and smaller near the tip of the stem.
The flowers are sweetly scented, yellow to greenish yellow, and bloom from late winter to late summer. They can reach a length of up to 1.2 inches (3 cm). The male and female flowers occur on separate plants. The fruits are ellipsoid capsules that contain 3 to 5 tiny seeds.
How to Grow and Care for Adenia glauca
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 11a to 11b: from 40°F (4.4°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Adenia plants are summer growers and can be watered and fed regularly if planted in fast-draining soil. Let the soil dry between watering if you are in a humid climate.
Most of your growth will occur during the warm season, when the plant has the most leaves. The plant will also grow best with the leaves exposed to bright light, but the caudex is shaded.
Protect the plant from frost during the cool months to keep it alive. The plant rests typically during this period, and water should be kept to a minimum. However, you can keep the plant active above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).
Their sap is poisonous and should be handled cautiously, particularly when pruning.
Most cuttings do not produce a caudex, so it is best to propagate by seeds. Adenias are either male or female, so one of each is required to produce seeds.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Adenia.
Links
- Back to genus Adenia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
