Scientific Name
Orbea wissmannii var. eremastrum (O.Schwartz) P.V.Bruyns
Synonym(s)
Angolluma eremastrum, Caralluma eremastrum, Orbea wissmannii subsp. eremastrum, Pachycymbium eremastrum
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Subtribe: Stapeliinae
Genus: Orbea
Description
Orbea wissmannii var. eremastrum is a low-growing succulent with erect to ascending, 4-angled stems crowded in cushion-like masses. It grows up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall and 3.3 feet (1 m) in diameter. The stems are gray-green, often mottled with brown or purple. The angles of the stems are lined with prominent conical tubercles.
The flowers are star-shaped, deeply and narrowly lobed, up to 10 inches (25 cm) across, and appear in late summer or fall. The five corolla lobes are mostly reddish, sometimes flesh-colored at the base and greenish-yellow to yellow towards the tip.
Origin
Orbea wissmannii var. eremastrum is native to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Several species are fairly easy to grow. Others, often those with slightly hairy stems and the more unusual flowers, are more challenging and require careful watering (with some fertilizer) during the growing season and complete water withdrawal during the winter months. A minimum winter temperature of 50 °F (10 °C) is acceptable, providing plants are kept absolutely dry. A heated growing bench or incubator may help delicate plants to get through the colder months. However, many species live under shrubs in their habitat and prefer light shade rather than full sun.
A gritty compost is essential, and clay pots are advisable for the more delicate species. Some growers prefer mineral-only compost to minimize the chance of a fungal attack on the roots. A layer of grit on the compost surface prevents moisture from accumulating around the base of the stems.
Keeping Stapelias and their roots free of pests such as mealybugs is the real key to success, as fungal attacks often result from damage to stems by insects.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Stapelia.
Links
- Back to genus Orbea
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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