Scientific Name
Cotyledon papillaris L.f.
Synonym(s)
Cacalia papillaris, Kleinia papillaris, Cotyledon 'Choco Line'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Kalanchoideae
Genus: Cotyledon
Origin
Cotyledon papillaris is native to South Africa.
Description
Cotyledon papillaris is a spreading succulent shrublet with decumbent to procumbent branches that often root when touching the soil. It can grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) tall. This species is very variable, with many forms existing. The leaves are erect, yellowish-green to glaucous, and can measure up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) long and 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) wide.
The flowers are small, bell-shaped, yellowish to orange-red, and hang from the top of stalks that can grow up to 10 inches (25 cm) tall from late spring to summer.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °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 deciduonts, which are splendidly magnificent with large, solid, fleshy stems. The plants of the second group grow during the winter and shed their leaves during the summer.
These succulents require a free-draining, gritty mix and plenty of sunlight. If kept dry, they tolerate cool, frost-free conditions during the winter. 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 them 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 cacti and succulents (poor in nitrogen). The fertilizer should include all micronutrients and trace elements diluted to half 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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