Scientific Name
Conophytum ficiforme (Haw.) N.E.Br.
Common Name(s)
Button Plants
Synonym(s)
Mesembryanthemum ficiforme
Scientific Classification
Family: Aizoaceae
Subfamily: Ruschioideae
Tribe: Ruschieae
Genus: Conophytum
Origin
Conophytum ficiforme is native to South Africa. It occurs in crevices and exposed places in shale outcrops or growing among shale rubble on ridges in the valley of the Breede River, the mountains north of Worcester, and also near McGregor and Bonnievale in the Western Cape province.
Description
Conophytum ficiforme is a dwarf succulent that forms a compact dome-shaped clump or cushion of fig-shaped, often two-lobed bodies that consist of two almost entirely fused leaves. The bodies can grow up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) tall. They are grayish-green, often flushed with purple and with greenish to reddish spots or stripes that surround the fissure and across the lobes. During the dormancy, the old leaf pair slowly dries up, forming a sheath to protect the new leaves that are growing inside. The sheath is yellowish to white, wrinkled, and marked with tannin spots.
The flowers are long-lasting, highly scented, appear in fal and open in the evening. They can be pale yellow, pink, or whitish. The fruits are capsules that contain many tiny seeds.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10b to 11b: from 35 °F (+1.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Most Conophytums need bright light but do not like too much intense sunlight. To avoid sunburn, place them in a position to receive a few hours of full sun in cooler periods of the day.
These plants thrive best in a porous growing medium that will drain quickly. Use a commercial succulent soil specially designed for growing succulents or make your own mix.
When Conophytums go dormant in the spring, they require little or no water. In the fall, when plants will begin growing, it is safe to water deeply, allowing the soil to dry before watering again.
Conophytums are light feeders and do not need fertilizer if repotted every two years. It is best to feed at the beginning of the growth period and just before flowering.
These succulents will benefit from repotting. Depending on the size of the pot and growth rate, they typically need to be repotted every 2 to 4 years. The best time to repot a Conophytum is at the beginning of a period of active growth.
Conophytums are easily propagated by division. They can also be grown from seeds.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Conophytum.
Links
- Back to genus Conophytum
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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