Scientific Name
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Grey Sticks'
Synonym(s)
Cotyledon 'Grey Sticks', Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Flavida'
Common Name(s)
Finger Aloe
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Kalanchoideae
Genus: Cotyledon
Origin
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Grey Sticks' is a cultivar of Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga. It is believed to have been distributed in cultivation from a plant originally collected in the wild in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. This cultivar was described by Ernst Jacobus van Jaarsveld in 2003 in the "Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Crassulaceae."
Description
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Grey Sticks', also known as Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Flavida', is an attractive succulent shrub with closely packed, finger-like leaves along decumbent branches. The leaves are grayish-green with a chalky coating.
During the spring, umbrella-like clusters of bell-shaped, pale orange flowers are held well above the foliage on erect stalks that can grow up to 18 inches (45 cm) tall.
How to Grow and Care for Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Grey Sticks'
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 comprises 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 tolerate 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.
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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