Scientific Name
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Takbok'
Synonym(s)
Cotyledon orbiculata f. takbok, Cotyledon orbiculata 'Takbok', Cotyledon 'Takbok'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Kalanchoideae
Genus: Cotyledon
Description
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Takbok' is an attractive small succulent shrub with erect to decumbent stems and gray-green leaves, often with multiple lobes becoming antler-like. The leaves take on a reddish-brown hue when exposed to bright sunlight.
Flowering occurs from winter to spring. The flowers are orange, bell-shaped, and dangle from erect, up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall stalks.
Origin
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Takbok' is a cultivar of Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga. The origin is unknown.
Etymology
The cultivar name "takbok" is an African word meaning "the branched antlers of a buck" and refers to the shape of the leaves.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 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.
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 of over-watering when they are deciduous.
As succulents go, Cotyledons 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 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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