Scientific Name
Fockea edulis 'Variegata'
Accepted Scientific Name
Fockea edulis K.Schum.
Common Name(s)
Hottentot Bread
Synonym(s)
Fockea edulis f. variegata
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Fockeeae
Genus: Fockea
Etymology
The word "Hottentot" in the common name was first recorded in the late 17th century and used to refer to the Khoikhoi, a group of Khoisan-speaking pastoral peoples of South Africa and Namibia. It is now regarded as too derogatory and offensive to be used in an ethnic sense. The only acceptable modern use for "Hottentot" is in the common names of plants and animals.
Origin
Fockea edulis 'Variegata' is a form of Fockea edulis selected for its variegated foliage.
Description
Fockea edulis 'Variegata' is a caudiciform plant with twisted tuberous roots, thin branches, and green leaves with irregular yellow margins that often merge to cover the whole leaf. The tuber is gray with wart-like tubercules and can reach up to 2 feet (60 cm) in diameter. The branches can grow up to 13.1 feet (4 m) long and climb around other plants or supports. The leaves are egg-shaped, measuring up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The plant will lose some leaves in winter but rarely goes completely leafless.
The whitish-green flowers usually appear in summer and can reach up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) in diameter.
How to Grow and Care for Fockea edulis 'Variegata'
Light: These plants prefer partial shade. They can tolerate full sun but need a little sun protection during the hottest part of the day.
Soil: A fast-draining soil mix is the best soil for your Fockea to drain excess water.
Hardiness: Fockea edulis 'Variegata' can withstand temperatures as low as 25 to 50 °F (-3.9 to 10 °C), USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b.
Watering: During the growing season, from spring to fall, water regularly and allow the soil to dry between waterings. Reduce watering in the winter. Water it only enough to prevent the shriveling of the tuber.
Fertilizing: Feed with high-nitrogen fertilizer with a lower potassium level only during the growing season to force tuber growth.
Propagation: Fockea plants are relatively easy to grow from seeds. They are dioecious, so both male and female plants are needed to produce seeds. Vegetative propagation is difficult to impossible.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Fockea.
Toxicity of Fockea edulis 'Variegata'
Fockeas are known as food plants, but the tuber has milky sap, which is said to be poisonous. Avoid contact with skin or eyes, and keep away from children and pets.
Links
- Back to genus Fockea
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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