Scientific Name
Huerniopsis decipiens N.E. Br.
Synonyms
Caralluma grivana, Piaranthus decipiens, Piaranthus grivanus
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Genus: Huerniopsis
Description
Huerniopsis decipiens is a succulent plant with decumbent, 4-angled, dull green or purplish tinted stems with spreading teeth. The stems are up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long and up to 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) thick. Flowers came in various colors, either uniform shades of reddish, brown, maroon, or faintly green with white or varying yellowish mottling. They open simultaneously or with long intervals in late summer or fall.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Stapeliads are relatively easy to grow. However, they should be treated as outdoor plants as they will easily rot indoors and cannot flower without exposure to outdoor temperature fluctuations. They should be grown under cover so that watering can be controlled. They require a reasonable amount of sunlight to promote flowering and maintain a well-shaped plant. Very shady positions will produce very poor flowering. Stapeliads come from climates where they survive extremely high temperatures in the summer months, so most growth is in spring and autumn, with flowering in autumn when the weather starts to cool down. Water in moderation when needed in the growing season, making sure soil is fairly dried out between waterings. Do not water between November 1 and March 1.
The easiest and best way to propagate Stapeliads is from stem cuttings which can be taken virtually throughout the year. Seed is also a method of propagation.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Stapeliads.
Origin
Native to Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa (Northern Cape).
Links
- Back to genus Huerniopsis
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
