Scientific Name
Cotyledon tomentosa Harv.
Common Name(s)
Bear's Paw
Synonym(s)
Cotyledon tomentosa subsp. tomentosa
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Kalanchoideae
Genus: Cotyledon
Etymology
The specific epithet "tomentosa" (pronounced "toh-men-TOH-suh") means "having a mass of rough hairs" and refers to the leaves of this species that are covered with a dense layer of short hairs.
Origin
Cotyledon tomentosa is native to South Africa (Cape Province).
Description
Cotyledon tomentosa is a densely branched succulent shrublet with branches that bear hairy, green to gray-green leaves with 3 to 10 reddish to dark red marginal teeth. It can grow up to 20 inches (50 cm) tall. The leaves are thick and fleshy, measuring up to 2.6 inches (6.5 cm) long and 1.3 inches (3.2 cm) wide.
The bell-shaped flowers are light yellow, orange to orange-red, or pinkish and appear in spring.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25°F (-3.9°C) to 50°F (10°C).
How to Grow and Care
Bear's Paw grows in bright, shaded areas where it rarely receives direct sunlight. Outdoors, plant it in slightly sandy, well-drained soil where water does not collect after rain or irrigation. Potted plants require a container with at least one bottom drainage hole. When planting Bear's Paw in containers, select pots only slightly larger than the root system.
Regular deep watering in the summer, when the plant is actively growing, keeps the Bear's Paw healthy. Water garden plants deeply once weekly when there is no rainfall, supplying about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water. Potted plants require watering when the soil has almost completely dried. Thoroughly drench the soil until the water drains from the bottom hole in the pot, and empty the collected water after the pot finishes draining. Bear's Paw only requires enough water in winter, so the soil does not dry completely, and the plants do not shrivel.
Light fertilizing twice monthly is only necessary during the active summer growing season. An all-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer, such as a 24-8-16 blend, works well for succulent plants.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Cotyledon.
Subspecies and Forms
Links
- Back to genus Cotyledon
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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