General Description | An easy to grow tropical and very popular houseplant. |
Shape | Upright rounded crown. |
Landscape | Rock gardens, succulent collections, potted indoor plant, potted outdoor plant, container plant or as a specimen. |
Propagation | Stem or leaf cuttings. |
Cultivation | Plant in loose, well-draining loamy to sandy soil. Provide plenty of light and turn the plant frequently for even exposure. |
Pests | Red spider mites and aphids may be a problem. |
Notable Specimens | Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada (usually in flower in March). |
Habitat | Dry loamy plains and sunny, rocky outcroppings. |
Bark/Stem Description | Smooth succulent bark with a slightly exfoliating top layer, giving it a rougher and lighter appearance on mature stems. Thick leaf stems grow upward from a solitary trunk. |
Leaf Description | Smooth, oblong-ovate, rounded leaves growing oppositely along leaf stems. |
Flower Description | Small delicate flowers with lanceolate petals, open cup-shaped with defined pistils. Flowers grow among leaves in terminal panicles of 5 - 12 in late winter (in optimal conditions). Very rare indoors. |
Colour Description | Deep green to sage green succulent leaves, dusty grey-brown leaf stems and light brown to light green matured base stem. |
Texture Description | Smooth, glossy to slightly shiny leaves. Smooth bark with matured, slightly exfoliant bark near the base. |