Duvalia caespitosa

Scientific Name

Duvalia caespitosa Haw.

Synonym(s)

Ceropegia caespitosa, Duvalia caespitosa var. caespitosa, Stapelia caespitosa, Stisseria caespitosa

Scientific Classification

Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Subtribe: Stapeliinae
Genus: Duvalia

Etymology

The specific epithet "caespitosa (kess-pi-TOH-suh)" means "turf, grass (attributive)" and refers to the growth habit of the species.

Origin

Duvalia caespitosa is native to South Africa. It occurs mainly in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape and rarely in the Free State province.

Description

Duvalia caespitosa is a small succulent with 4- to 5-angled, dark green to purplish stems that branch at the base, forming a compact clump. The stems are up to 5.2 inches (13 cm) long and 0.9 inches (2.2 cm) thick, with leaf rudiments along the ribs.

The flowers appear solitary or in pairs from the lower parts of young stems, usually in fall. They are dark chocolate or deep purple, star-shaped, with five narrow corolla lobes that spread horizontally around the raised annulus. The corona in the center of the flower is orange-brown to yellow on a reddish-brown to yellowish-green base.

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zone 11a to 11b: from 40 °F (+4.4 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).

How to Grow and Care

Stapeliads are relatively easy to grow. However, they should be treated as outdoor plants as they will easily rot indoors and cannot flower without exposure to outdoor temperature fluctuations. They should be grown under cover so that watering can be controlled. They require a reasonable amount of sunlight to promote flowering and maintain a well-shaped plant. Very shady positions will produce very poor flowering. Stapeliads come from climates where they survive extremely high temperatures in the summer months, so most growth is in spring and autumn, with flowering in autumn when the weather starts to cool down. Water in moderation when needed in the growing season, ensuring the soil is pretty dried out between waterings. Do not water between November 1 and March 1.

The easiest and best way to propagate Stapeliads is from stem cuttings, which can be taken virtually throughout the year. Seed is also a method of propagation.

See more at How to Grow and Care for Stapeliads.

Subspecies and Varieties

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