Scientific Name
Cotyledon orbiculata 'Elk Horns'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Kalanchoideae
Genus: Cotyledon
Origin
Cotyledon orbiculata 'Elk Horns' is a cultivar of Cotyledon orbiculata.
Description
Cotyledon orbiculata 'Elk Horns' is an interesting succulent with powdery, silver-white leaves that start round, but become flat and multi-pronged as they grow, resembling elk antlers. It can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 18 inches (45 cm) wide. The leaf tips are frequently accented by a crimson margin that stands out against the white-to-blue tones of the leaf surface.
From late spring to early summer, Cotyledon orbiculata 'Elk Horns' produces bell-shaped flowers that range from yellow to orange and red. The flowers can reach 0.8 inches (2 cm) in length and droop from the top of a stalk that can grow up to 1.5 feet (45 cm) tall.
How to Grow and Care for Cotyledon orbiculata 'Elk Horns'
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zone 9b to 11b: from 25°F (-3.9°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Cotyledons can be divided into two groups. One group consists of evergreen plants that grow in summer. The other group consists of deciduous plants, splendidly magnificent, with large, solid, fleshy stems. The second group grows during the winter and sheds its leaves during the summer.
Cotyledons require a free-draining, gritty mix and plenty of sunlight. They are tolerant of cool, frost-free conditions during the winter if kept dry. Some require pruning to maintain an attractive shape.
Cotyledons should be kept in a sunny position. Follow general succulent watering procedures. Be careful not to overwater when they are deciduous.
As succulents go, Cotyledons certainly are rewarding garden and indoor subjects, practically independent of irrigation in all but full desert conditions. However, they cannot survive in poor light or with poor drainage in wet weather.
Feed it once or twice during the growing season with a fertilizer specifically formulated for cacti and succulents (poor in nitrogen), including all micronutrients and trace elements diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Cotyledon.
Links
- Back to genus Cotyledon
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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