Scientific Name
Dorstenia hildebrandtii Engl.
Synonym(s)
Dorstenia hildebrandtii var. hildebrandtii, Dorstenia braunii, Dorstenia brevifolia, Dorstenia marambensis, Dorstenia polyactis
Scientific Classification
Family: Moraceae
Tribe: Dorstenieae
Genus: Dorstenia
Description
Dorstenia hildebrandtii is a rhizomatous or tuberous plant with ascending to erect, branched or unbranched stems and spirally arranged leaves. The stems are fleshy to sometimes thickly succulent. The basal part is often swollen, sometimes forming a globose to pear-shaped tuber up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) in diameter. Leaves are fleshy, green, and variable in shape from oblong to elliptic, lanceolate, oblanceolate, or linear. The inflorescences of numerous flowers are disc-shaped to funnel-shaped, about 0.5 inches (1.2 cm) in diameter, and appear from late spring to fall.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10b to 11b: from 35 °F (+1.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Dorstenias are warm, loving plants, and they need a bit more water than regular succulents. They need a well-drained potting mix, and their water needs vary depending on the season of the year. Water your Dorstenias regularly abundant from spring to fall. Allow the soil to dry slightly between watering, but ensure they never dry out completely. During the winter months, they tend to go at least partially dormant. During this period, water very little. Giving plants a warm, sunny position can result in beautiful compact growing plants. Fertilizing plants once in a while during their growing period with a high potash and phosphorus fertilizer is recommended.
With a high-temperature swing between the day and night hours and pretty frequent rains, the spring weather can favor the development of fungus diseases, which should be treated preemptively with a systemic fungicide.
Dorstenias are generally propagated by seed. Many species are self-fertile. Their seeds are expelled explosively from the mature seed heads and are liable to populate pots several feet away. They can also be propagated by cuttings.
See more at: How to Grow and Care for Dorstenia.
Origin
This species is native to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Burundi, Rwanda, and Mozambique.
Links
- Back to genus Dorstenia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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