Scientific Name
Dinteranthus vanzylii (L.Bolus) Schwantes
Synonym(s)
Dinteranthus vanzylii f. lineatus, Dinteranthus vanzylii var. lineatus, Lithops vanzylii
Scientific Classification
Family: Aizoaceae
Subfamily: Ruschioideae
Tribe: Ruschieae
Genus: Dinteranthus
Origin
Dinteranthus vanzylii is native to South Africa.
Description
Dinteranthus vanzylii is a dwarf succulent with attractive bodies consisting of paired, chalky white or grayish leaves with irregular red or brownish markings and dots. It can grow solitary or form a clump of few bodies with age. The bodies are cone-shaped and can grow up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) tall.
The solitary flowers are bright yellow to orangish and appear from the fissure between the leaves in mid-fall. They can reach up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) in diameter. The fruits are capsules with 8 to 10 locules.
Dinteranthus vanzylii is similar to Lithops in shape and color but with no apparent dormant period.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Adult plants of this genus behave like Lithops, with summer expansion leading to flowering in fall and a slow transfer of resources in winter. The main difference is that two active leaf pairs are not unusual in some Dinteranthus.
Dinteranthus require slightly less water than do most Lithops. Excellent drainage is essential. Their nutritional requirements are amazingly modest, and the root systems of even the healthiest plants are minuscule. What they need most critically is good light, which will give them a bone-white aspect. Older long-stemmed plants can and usually should be turned into cuttings and re-rooted.
Sow in high summer. Use sterilized soil with extra grit and enough peat to ensure high acidity. Place the sown pot in a water bath, cover the whole assemblage with clear plastic, and place it outdoors in a bright spot. Wait three full days, remove the pots to your usual place of germination, and mist them at least twice a day. Seedlings should be evident within 12 days of sowing.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Dinteranthus.
Links
- Back to genus Dinteranthus
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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