Scientific Name
Anacampseros quinaria E.Mey. ex Fenzl
Synonym(s)
Anacampseros quinaria subsp. quinaria, Avonia quinaria
Scientific Classification
Family: Anacampserotaceae
Genus: Anacampseros
Etymology
The specific epithet "quinaria" (pronounced "kwin-AIR-ee-uh") means "quinary, containing or consisting of five things" and refers to the five-petaled flowers of this species.
Origin
The native range of Anacampseros quinaria extends from south-eastern Namibia to Bushmanland and north-eastern Namaqualand in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.
Description
Anacampseros quinaria, formerly known as Avonia quinaria, is a dwarf, highly branched succulent with a flat-topped caudex and a crown of short, slender branches with tiny leaves hidden by triangular to broadly ovate scales darkening towards the tip. It can grow up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) tall. The caudex is fleshy to somewhat woody and can reach a diameter of 2 inches (5 cm).
The solitary flowers are pink and appear at the tips of the branches in summer, measuring up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) in diameter.
Subspecies
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30°F (-1.1°C) to 50°F (10°C).
How to Grow and Care
Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant, it is relatively easy to grow in cultivation. Avonias grow very slowly and require careful cultivation. Clustering in cultivation, if grown correctly, will reward the grower with generous displays of tiny flowers. These plants grow well at moderate to cooler temperatures in partial sun. Bright light enhances leaf colors and makes for a compact plant. Depending on the species, they enjoy gritty, free-draining soil with added organic material and low to moderate watering.
The seeds germinate quickly at temperatures between 59°F and 70°F (15°C and 21°C). In cultivation, the young plants develop much quicker than in their natural surroundings, where they do not get an ample water supply. Generally, they are not easy to raise from seed, as too much water kills them immediately, which also happens when they are not watered.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Avonia.
Links
- Back to genus Anacampseros
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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