Dyckia marnier-lapostollei (White Dyckia)

Scientific Name

Dyckia marnier-lapostollei L.B.Sm.

Common Names

White Dyckia

Synonyms

Dyckia marnier-lapostollei var. marnier-lapostollei

Scientific Classification

Family: Bromeliaceae
Subfamily: Pitcairnioideae
Genus: Dyckia

Description

Dyckia marnier-lapostollei is a slow-growing plant with mostly solitary, stemless rosettes, up to 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter. The leaves are up to 8 inches (20 cm) long, gray-green and covered in silvery-white, scale-like hairs, so that the plant looks almost completely white. These leaves twist and curl as they recurve downward and have large, claw-like, recurved spines along the margins. Mature plants can send up a spike up to 3 feet (90 cm) tall in summer with orange-yellow tubular flowers scattered near the tip.

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).

How to Grow and Care

Dyckias are not technically succulents, as they do not store water in their leaves like true succulents. They are xerographic and survive long periods without water by going dormant. Their rosette of thick, succulent leaves will eventually wilt, but recovery is rapid when watering is resumed.

Most of the plants survive in warm regions with heavy rainfall for half the year and very dry conditions the rest of the time. This makes Dyckia care slightly challenging, as getting the right balance of moisture to keep the plant happy may be difficult. The growing conditions in their natural setting should be mimicked as much as possible.

In their native region, it is not uncommon to find some forms growing on top of rocks near water. Water and the cycle of the monsoon season are important features to Dyckia health. They are used to rather poor soil when they do grow in ground and should be planted in a good succulent mixture.

Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Dyckia.

Origin

Dyckia marnier-lapostollei is native to Brazil.

Links

• Back to genus Dyckia
• Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus

Photo Gallery