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
Description
Dinteranthus vanzylii is a dwarf succulent with attractive bodies of paired chalky white or grayish leaves with irregular red or brownish markings and dots. It grows up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) tall, solitary or clump-forming. The leaves are plump and juicy. The flower is bright yellow and appears from the fissure between the leaves in mid-fall.
D. vanzyli is similar to Lithops in shape and colors 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, summer expansion leading to flowering in fall, followed by a slow transfer of resources in winter. The main difference is that the presence of 2 active leaf pairs is 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.
Origin
This species is native to South Africa.
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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