Scientific Name
Huernia thuretii var. primulina (N.E.Br.) L.C.Leach
Accepted Scientific Name
Huernia thuretii Cels ex Hérincq
Common Name(s)
Yelow-flower Huernia, Primrose Huernia
Synonym(s)
Huernia primulina, Huernia primulina var. primulina
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Stapeliae
Genus: Huernia
Origin
Huernia thuretii var. primulina is native to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is not accepted as a variety and is treated as a synonym of Huernia thuretii.
Description
Huernia thuretii var. primulina, also known as Huernia primulina, is a small succulent that forms dense clumps of green, erect, 4– to 5-angled stems with sharp teeth along the edges. It has longer, more creeping stems than Huernia thuretii var. thuretii. The stems are mottled with pink and purple in bright sunlight and can grow up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick, excluding the teeth. The teeth have recurving tips and measure up to 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) long.
The flowers are pale yellow with red or maroon throat and appear solitary or in clusters of up to 4 from the basal part of the stems in fall.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (-1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
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 helps 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.
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.
