Scientific Name
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Macrantha'
Common Name(s)
Green Pig's Ear, Paddle Plant, Pig's Ear
Synonym(s)
Cotyledon orbiculata var. macrantha, Cotyledon orbiculata 'Macrantha', Cotyledon macrantha, Cotyledon macrantha 'Rubromarginata', Cotyledon 'Macrantha'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Kalanchoideae
Genus: Cotyledon
Description
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Macrantha' is a succulent shrub with decumbent branches and fleshy, paddle-shaped, green leaves edged with a thin red line. It grows up to 32 inches (80 cm) tall.
Attractive when not blooming, this plant is particularly striking in winter and spring when long stalks arise, bearing clusters of showy, bell-shaped, coral-red flowers.
Origin
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Macrantha' is one of the many cultivars of Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Cotyledons can be divided into two groups. One group consists of evergreen plants with a summer growing period. 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.
These succulents 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 of overwatering 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 poor light or bad drainage in the wet.
Feed it once or twice during the growing season with a fertilizer specifically formulated for cactus and succulents (poor in nitrogen), including all micronutrients and trace elements diluted to 1/2 the strength recommended on the label.
Learn 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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