Scientific Name
Huernia hystrix (Hook.f.) N.E.Br.
Common Name(s)
Porcupine Huernia, Toad Plant
Synonym(s)
Stapelia hystrix, Ceropegia hystrix
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Stapeliae
Genus: Huernia
Description
Huernia hystrix is a small succulent with 5-angled erect to prostrate stems with spaced swollen tubercles along the stem ridges tipped with sharp conical teeth pointing outwards. The thick fleshy stems are usually pale green, occasionally glaucous, and tinted dull purple. They are up to 4.8 inches (12 cm) long and up to 0.5 inches (1.2 cm) wide, excluding teeth. Flowers are bell-shaped, pale yellow to cream-colored with crimson to maroon spots. They are borne in groups of 2 to 5 and grow on long hairless stalks from the axils of the tubercles in the lower stem parts.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10b to 11b: from 35 °F (+1.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Huernias require a potting mix with excellent drainage. A succulent plant mix of 50 percent pumice or perlite, 25 percent peat or organic mulch, and 25 percent sand helps prevent rotting and overwatering. Roots experience dieback in cool-season dormancy, so plants grow best in shallow containers that allow the soil to dry out quickly. Using clay pots further prevents the soil from staying too wet. An underlayment of coarse gravel below the soil mix also improves drainage. A layer of gravel between the plant and the soil mix in climates with damp, cool summers also prevents the stems from staying too moist.
Outdoor plantings do well in raised beds. Huernias prefer bright light or partial shade. In nature, they grow underneath shrubs or other plants. Too much sun causes stems to develop protective reddish or purple pigmentation and can actually scald the stems. Too little light leads to weak, thin growth with decreased flower production. These plants grow best between 50 and 80 °F (10 and 27 °C). Protect them from freezing weather.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Huernia.
Origin
This species is native to South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo), Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
Links
- Back to genus Huernia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
