Pleiospilos nelii is a mimicry plant with a pattern that helps it camouflage against granite blocks in its native habitat, resembling a small cracked rock.
Scientific Name
Pleiospilos nelii Schwantes
Common Name(s)
Cleft Stone, Mimicry Plant, Split Rock
Synonym(s)
Pleiospilos pedunculatus, Pleiospilos tricolor
Scientific Classification
Family: Aizoaceae
Subfamily: Ruschioideae
Tribe: Ruschieae
Genus: Pleiospilos
Etymology
The specific epithet "nelii (NEL-ee-eye)" honors Gert Cornelius Nel (1885-1950), a South African botanist, plant collector, and professor of botany at the University of Stellenbosch.
Origin
Pleiospilos nelii is native to South Africa. It occurs in semi-arid areas on the border between the Western Cape and Eastern Cape province.
Description
Pleiospilos nelii is a dwarf succulent plant with one or more pairs of opposite leaves that form a clefted egg-shaped body. The leaves are grey-green to brownish with tiny dark dots that are, in fact, stomata (pores in the epidermis). Each year, a new pair of leaves is produced, emerging from the fissure between the two older leaves. The bodies can grow up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) tall and 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter.
The daisy-like flowers have numerous narrow, yellow-orange to salmon petals with white bases, measure about 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter, and appear from the fissure between the leaves, usually from early spring to mid-summer or sometimes in fall. They smell like coconut, open in the afternoon, and close at sunset over a bloom period of several days. The fruits are capsules with 9 to 15, mostly 11 locules, and open when wet to release the tiny seeds.
How to Grow and Care for Pleiospilos nelii
Light: This plant requires bright light but not too much direct sunlight. So, a windowsill that receives 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon will be a perfect spot for indoor growing.
Soil: Pleiospilos nelii thrives in porous soil that allows water to drain away quickly. Therefore, use commercial soil for succulents or make your own well-draining mix.
Temperature: High temperatures are not a problem as long as there is plenty of fresh air, but this plant is not cold-hardy. It grows best in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9b to 11b, with average minimum winter temperatures ranging from 25 to 50 °F (-3.9 to 10 °C).
Watering: To keep your plant healthy, it is most important to know when, how much, and how often to water. During the dormant period, usually in summer, Pleiospilos nelii requires little or no water. In the fall, once it grows again, water thoroughly but allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Fertilizing: As long as you repot this plant every two years, it does not need fertilizer.
Repotting: Even if it can stay happy in the same pot for years, once in a while, you can repot your plant to give it more space anytime during the growing season. However, the best time is at the beginning of the growing season.
Propagation: Although it is usually started from seeds, Pleiospilos nelii can be easily propagated by division. Late summer, just before it begins to break dormancy, is the best time to divide the plant, while the fall is ideal for sowing the seeds.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Mesembs.
Toxicity of Pleiospilos nelii
Pleiospilos nelii is considered non-toxic, so having it around kids and pets is safe.
Cultivars of Pleiospilos nelii
Links
- Back to genus Pleiospilos
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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