Scientific Name
Caralluma crenulata Wall.
Synonym(s)
Boucerosia crenulata, Ceropegia crenulata, Desmidorchis crenulata, Hutchinia crenulata
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Subtribe: Stapeliinae
Genus: Caralluma
Origin
Caralluma crenulata is native to Myanmar.
Description
Caralluma crenulata, also known as Boucerosia crenulata, is a much-branched succulent with green creeping stems with four ribs lined with fleshy pointed teeth. It can reach up to 6 inches (15 cm) in height, forming a dense mat. The branched stems can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) in length.
The flowers are five-lobed, variably hairy, yellow with reddish-brown stripes, and appear in attractive clusters in late summer and fall. They can reach up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Stapeliads are relatively easy to grow. However, they should be treated as outdoor plants as they will easily rot indoors and cannot flower without exposure to outdoor temperature fluctuations. They should be grown under cover so that watering can be controlled. They require a reasonable amount of sunlight to promote flowering and maintain a well-shaped plant. Very shady positions will produce very poor flowering. Stapeliads come from climates where they survive extremely high temperatures in the summer months, so most growth is in spring and autumn, with flowering in autumn when the weather starts to cool down.
The easiest and best way to propagate Stapeliads is by stem cuttings taken virtually throughout the year. Using seeds is also a method of propagation.
They all need extra good drainage. Stapeliads are shallow-rooted, and a collection of them can be planted up nicely in a wide, shallow bowl. When planting, it is a good idea to allow the roots to be buried in soil and then put pure gravel or sand around the base of the plant to prevent rot.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Stapeliads.
Links
- Back to genus Caralluma
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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