Succulent works are the camels of the vegetable world , storing up food and water to be used not on a rainy mean solar day , but during a period of prolong drouth . This may last for a few weeks or , in extreme cases , plants have go without rainfall for over a yr . This water can be stored in either the leaves or the fore of the plants , depending on the case .
This gives rise to two distinct case of succulent plant , folio succulents and stem succulents . The fore succulent usually have no leave ( except sometimes very small ones on unseasoned growth , before long decrease off ) , and the gullible tissue paper of the stem take on over the work of the leaves to invent the intellectual nourishment . Without leaf , theplants can reduce much of the waterloss . The bow are commonly very thick and full of water computer memory tissue paper , and are mostly either cylindrical or spherical in shape , sometimes being deeply ribbed . The rib activate the plant to spread out or contract as it soak up or loses water .
Leaf succulents have plump , rounded leaves full of water storehouse tissue . They are often coat with wax , repast or hairs , helping to reduce water loss from their surfaces . Often these succulent have fleshy stems as well , but the leave play the most of import part in food for thought manufacturing .

The cacti , all belonging to one family , are the most popular group of succulent plants , but many other works family have succulent members . Among the syndicate whose succulent species are grown are theCrassulaceae , Aizoaceae , Euphorbiaceae , Asclepiadaceae , Liliaceae , andAgavaceae .
Cacti
The cactus family is aboriginal to America ; plants found in Europe and elsewhere have been introduced at some prison term in the yesteryear . There are three distinct types of plant , the pereskias , the epiphyte and the desert cacti , and these postulate dissimilar treatment because of their disagree ‘ home ’ atmospheric condition . Except for the pereskias , they are stem succulents , having either no leaves or little temporary one . Cacti are not all spiny industrial plant , some being powerfully armed while others are quite thornless . All cacti have areoles , modest pincushion - like structures break up over the stems . Spines , when present , off - shoots , and arm come from these areoles . This is the way to describe a cactus from another stalk succulent , such as a genus Euphorbia , which does not have areoles . Also all cactus flowers have the same ecumenical excogitation , while those of other succulents disagree staggeringly between the various household .
Pereskias
The Pereskia must have a abbreviated acknowledgment here , as they are so different from other cacti . They are obtainable from the specialist nursery , but not probable to be found in the local flower store . They are interesting in that they are the only cacti which are not really succulents , and have normal leaves , rather like those of a privet , but possess vertebral column and , of track , the characteristic areoles . The flowers abide a superficial resemblance to the dotty rose . They are bushes and climbers from the tropical part of due north and central America , where they are used as hedging works , and can be grown as pot plants , but to be really successful they postulate to be bedded out in a large glasshouse , where they can struggle up a wall or over a support . They call for a wintertime temperature of about 50 ° F ( 10 ° C ) and to be kept moist all the year around . Most growers regard them as curiosities , and they are not very common in collections .
Epiphytic Cacti
By contrast , the epiphytes are grown in this country very ordinarily , many being sold as florists ’ plants . In their native South American tropical rainfall forests , the epiphytic cactus are found grow in the debris caught up in the branches of trees . They originate among the other epiphyte , ferns , bromeliads , and orchids , which festoon the trees in these tropical regions . Although there is no shortage of H2O where the industrial plant are found , the pockets of hoummos they are spring up in dry out very quickly . Epiphytic cacti have no leaf , but flatten out , slenderly succulent stem , sometimes incorrectly call ‘ leaf ’ .
These stems may consist of unforesightful segments , as in the conversant ‘ Christmas cactus ’ ( genus Schlumbergera ) , the flowers appearing on the ends of the segment , or the stems may be prospicient and strap - like , as in the epiphyllums . In this latter , the flowers are commonly contain on the sides of the base . Owing to the smasher of their blossom , epiphyllums have receive a lot of attention from horticulturist . There are tremendous figure of beautiful hybrids on the market , in all colour except blue , while the uncivilized species are not often develop as greenhouse plant owe to their large size and the difficulty of flowering them in cultivation . These hybrid orchid cactus , together with the myopic - stemmed rhipsalidopsis and schlumbergeras are the one in this group most often grown as pot plant . All require the same canonical treatment .
They need a estimable , porous soil and a compost of adequate theatrical role loam , peatmoss or leafage mold , decayed cow manure and sand , plus some charcoal grey is desirable . folio moulding is idealistic if it can be receive as it more closely resemble the raw grease of the forest . The soilless composts are also very suitable for these and other cacti , but for the epiphytes , the lime - devoid eccentric of compost is good . It helps to add a teaspoonful of bonemeal to eachpot of compost . Re - potting should be done annually . These cacti will survive wintertime temperatures as down as 41 ° F ( 5 ° century ) , but flower much intimately if kept a little warmer . They should be kept moist all the year around . In fact , it is best to forget that they are cacti and treat them as normal pot plants . When in bud , epiphytes can be fed every two week with a tomato - type atomic number 19 fertilizer .

Because these epiphytic cacti develop among trees , they do not need full sunlight . They make very successful house plants if grown on an east - facing window - ledge , where they will receive the former sunrise sun , but are in shade during the heat of the daylight . They grow rapidly , and when a plant outgrows a 6 - in . pot , it should be re - started . A stem is cut from an orchid cactus or a few segments from the schlumbergeras and rhipsalidopsis . The cutting is allowed to dry out for two or three day and then potted up . This drying period for cactus and other succulent cuttings is always carry out to forestall bunkum from spreading into the heavy stems . As they are succulent , they do not wilt during this period as other plants would . The best time of the class for taking cuttings is April — May , although it is quite potential at any sentence during spring and summer .
Desert CactiThe desert cacti are the setose tall or round plant that we associate with the American deserts . in reality many are find growing on rocky wad face and in grassy areas , as well as in the sandy regions of Mexico and South America . They all demand the maximal amount of sunlight to fly high and flower freely . For this grounds they do not make such good home plants as the epiphytes . If a glasshouse is not usable , they should be kept on a south - facing window sill , and preferably stood out of doors from May to September .
A minimal winter temperature of 4.1 ° F ( 5 ° century ) is passable for most desert cacti . A well - drain compost is crucial . One containing 2 function loam , 2 parts peatmoss , 2 part sand , 2 parts crack soot , plus some charcoal and 1 pint bonemeal per bushel of mix , is suitable . instead , a soilless compost may be used . Since the solid food content of the soil does not last incessantly , the plants should be repotted each year .
Many people seem to reckon that cacti take no water ! This is far from the true statement , although they will certainly survive a period of time of xerotes ( after all they are adapt to do just this ) . This means that it is not necessary to worry too much while you are on vacation ( although seedlings will suffer ) . But without water , they will just outlast , not arise , and the plants should be kept more or less continually moist between April and October .
The watering should be reduced after this and they should be left dry during December and January , if kept in a glasshouse . Watering can be restarted gradually as the ignitor improves in February . If the plants are wintered in a heated home with a very juiceless atmosphere , more water will be want during winter to prevent excessive shrivelling . Indoors , the ideal winter spot is an unheated elbow room , but this may not always be potential . The reason for keeping them dry at this time is that if they develop in the wretched light of wintertime , they are probable to become distorted and may well decompose the following class . Also , anthesis is very much bear on by the late wintertime ’s treatment .
Desert cacti are mostly very well reproduced from cuttings . Some plant life form offsets which can be take away and pot up , after the common few 24-hour interval dry period . Some clustering plants will have root ‘ puppy ’ ( offsets ) around the base of the parent ; these can be ‘ removed and potted up directly . If the plant does not shape offsets , a section of stem can becut off and pottedup after dry for about a workweek . The al-Qa’ida of the parent plant life can be keep as it will often shoot again , form a number of offset around the excision top . The respectable metre to do all this is , as before , between April and June .
Other Succulents
As mention earlier , the other succulents fall into several different crime syndicate , and since the finish variegate somewhat for each , it is best to give a brief verbal description of them . Crassulaceae This family is very orotund , dwell of leaf succulent with almost world - wide distribution . The most beautiful members of the family are the echeverias of the New World and the crassulas of South Africa . Other attractive plant are the genus Aeonium and sedum , with plump , often extremely slanted folio , arranged in rosettes . All should be kept slightly moist all the year round . source of these plants is unmanageable to get , but they can mostly be easily regurgitate from cutting which want small or no drying before potting up . Some mintage can even be grown from leaves , just laid on the soil , when they will root , and send out unexampled shoots .
AizoaceaeThis is a fellowship of foliage succulents found mainly in Africa . They variegate from little shrub to plant about radius in . high consisting of one pair of very succulent foliage . One of the main characteristics of this group is that most of them have distinct resting period , corresponding to the dry season of their aboriginal lands . During this period , from about October to March , they must be keep completely teetotal . The old leaves will bit by bit shrivel aside . lachrymation should not be re - start until the new leaves seem in springiness . pop plant are the declension growing conophytums , glottiphyllums and pleiospilos and the summertime growing lithops and faucarias . This group is quite easily arouse from seed , or heads of clustering plants may be withdraw , dry out for a few days and potted up . June to July is a good time for this .
Euphorbiaceae
This turn back only one radical , the Euphorbia , commonly grown , but this is an immense group of world - wide statistical distribution , many of which are not succulents . The succulent works are most unremarkably found on the African continent . These are shank succulents , although during the rise period some coinage give rise leaf on the young growth . Euphorbias vary enormously in size , some reaching tree - like proportions , closely resembling the colossus cacti . Others are little , clustering plants only a few inches high . All have one thing in uncouth , an irritating , sometimes poisonous , milky sap . Euphorbia flowers are unremarkably small and peanut , but often have a sweet lime - similar fragrance . In some species the manful and female flowers are on separate plants . Euphorbias are hard to propagate from press cutting , but may be pronto set up from seeded player , although it needs to be fresh for success .
Asclepiadaceae This family stop a large number of leafless theme succulent from the dry neighborhood of the Old World . Where they occur , there are no bee and the blossom are pollinated by flies . To be attractive to rainfly , the blossom often have an unpleasant tone to us . However , the bloom are unremarkably large ( sometimes immense ) in shades of reddish - brownish or yellow , often covered with hair . Stapelias are probably the well known in this group . We also have duvalias and carallumas . They are easy elicit from semen , which evolve promptly but has a tendency to break off equally quickly . Cuttings may be taken from June to August . They are good just put down on the territory and may be water after about a hebdomad . Liliaceae This family contains not only the lily bulbs of our garden but a group of folio succulent plants which are found mainly on the African continent . The most interesting plant life are the bitter aloes , gasterias and haworthias .
Aloes can extend to a enceinte size and bear a superficial resemblance to the American agaves , with their farsighted strap - like leaves . There are also a phone number of small plant which are very attractive and will go on a window sill . Aloes have farseeing blossom stems , but the little potato does not die after flowering .
Gasterias and haworthias are found grow in the shade of grasses and little shrub in their aboriginal land . This makes them useful small plants forgrowing on windowsills or under the greenhousestaging .
All the flora which form bunch may be reproduced by take away offsets . Otherwise they must be raised from come . Agavaceae This last folk dealt with here , includes yuccas , sansevierias and agave . It is the agaves that interest the cultivator of succulents . These are little potato - shape plant with tough , strap - similar leaves . Although many are far too large for the average grower , there are small-scale specie that are ideal for the living room , because the very hard leafage enable these plants to withstand the dry atmosphere . Many people are familiar with the large , rather common specimens ofAgave americanafound grow along the Mediterranean coast . These plant life have at some time been introduce ; the American aloe are native to the southern U.S.A. , Mexico , Central America , the West Indies , and northern South America .
Agave flowers are borne on stems many feet retentive , but only on very onetime specimen , and after flowering , the rosette dies , but by then there are usually offsets rise around the al-Qaida of the plant . These can be removed and used for propagation . American aloe are very easily raised from seminal fluid .
Cultivation
The polish of the other succulents is very similar to that of the desert cacti ; any differences have been mentioned . They should be given sight of water in summer and keep either dry or slightly dampish in wintertime , depending on where they are keep . A suitable compost is that advocate for a Desert Cacti , with the exception of theAizoaceaewhich are better with rather more guts , up to 50 % . They all require the maximal amount of sun , particularly theAizoaceae , which are not really suited as Muse plants , but require the sunniest part of the nursery . A minimum winter temperature of 41 ° F ( 5 ° blow ) is adequate for most succulents although the stapelias and otherAsclepiadaceaeappreciate a trivial more .
upraise from seed Cacti and other succulents can be raise from seed in much the same manner as any other nursery plants . A good seed compost should be used ; either a criterion or soilless . After thoroughly moisten the compost , the seeds are just scattered on the control surface . The container is placed in a moldable bag to conserve wet . A temperature of 7o ° -8o ° F ( 21 ° -27`C ) is needed for sprouting . If a disseminator is available , early spring is the near fourth dimension to sow in , otherwise it is necessary to wait until by and by when the weather condition warm up .
Pests and diseases
Cacti and other succuments do not suffer greatly from these , if they are carefully seem after . Small cotton - woolen - like patches indicate coarse-grained bugs which can be control with a malathion nebuliser ( but do not use malathion onCrassulaceae).Brown spot on stems ( particularly epiphyllums ) are usually due to too low winter temperatures , too much nitrogen in the compost , or otherwise faulty cultivation . Cold , damp condition can cause plant to rot .
Cacti and Other succulent
Chamaecereus silvestri(peanut cactus ) is found growing among Gunter Wilhelm Grass and blue bushes in Western Argentina . The short , prostrate stems are freely ramify , and covered with short , besotted white spines . The stem are sick green in winter , but twist reddish blue in the red-hot sunlight . The furry brown buds open in May or June to big carmine heyday . This cactus is unfearing if kept juiceless , and may be wintered in an unwarmed cold form in milder areas . Propagation is particularly easy by removing branches and steady down them .
Cleistocactus strausiifrom Bolivia , form a tall , argent column , which may hit a height of 5 ft . With historic period it branches from the basis . The stem are traverse with unretentive white pricker . erstwhile specimen will flower ; the narrow prime are red-faced and are formed at the top of the root . However , if hold in to a pot it will be many long time before this flora becomes too large .
Echinocactus grusonii(golden barrel cactus ) fall from the comeupance of central Mexico . youthful seedling have nodule which carry stout golden spine . As the flora get larger the tubercles merge into ribs . Mature specimen of this cactus are about a curtilage across , but are very ancient as it adopt about ten years for a specimen in cultivation to make a diameter of 6 in . The small yellow-bellied flowers are rarely produce under base conditions due to piteous light intensity . Echinocereus knippelianus is aboriginal to Mexico . The dark-skinned green , almost globular stem is about 2 in . across . It is divided by five rib which hold weak , bloodless spines . The pink flowers are produced copiously in May . This is a behind - growing plant life and should be watered with care . Like most echinocereus , it is hardy in mild areas of the country if kept dry .
Echinocereus pectinatusis found growing in fundamental Mexico . It has a stocky stem turn about 3 in . in diameter , furcate from the base , and cover very neatly with brusque bloodless spines , arranged in a comb - like practice . The pink flowers are 3 - 4 in . across and in some specimens are sweetly odoriferous . The bloom period is about June . This is a slow growing cactus which is hardy in wintertime where wintertime are less severe if celebrate wry ; it needs particularly good drain . Echinopsis rhodotricha from Argentina , is an oval plant which in the state of nature can reach a pinnacle of 32 in . In cultivation it will flower when 6 in . gamey ; the long - tube , snowy fragrant flowers are about 6 in . long and 3 in . across . They are produce freely during the summer . They open up in the evening . The stem is coloured green , dissever into ribs with stout brown spines . This is a fast rise plant and is hardy where winters are milder if kept dry . The best known isE. eyrieseii , but most specimens on the marketplace are belike hybrids .
Echinopsis‘Golden Dream ’ is aLobivia x Echinopsishybrid , a vigorous and hardy industrial plant . It has a global plant soundbox , up to 6 in . across , divided into ribs with inadequate brownish vertebral column . kickoff form around the base . The golden - yellow flower appear in summer ; they have long tubes and are 2 to 3 in . across and more or less sweet-scented .
Epiphyllumhybrids are examples of the jungle ’ case of cactus . They make largish flora with strap - like theme , often 2 or 3 foot . long . The flowers are 3 or 4 in . across , and come out on the border of the prow , usually opening in the evening . Various un - name cerise hybrids are rough-cut ; among the name specimens are ‘ ingathering ’ ( red ) , ‘ Bliss ) ( orange ) , Cooperi ’ ( white and scented ) , ` Exotique ’ ( purplish ) , ‘ Gloria ’ ( orange - red ) and ‘ Sunburst ’ ( orange ) .
Ferocactus acanthodesfrom southerly California makes a cylindrical plant about 9 ft . high and 3 ft . across in nature . But such plants are very old . Seedlings and vernal plants make delightful pot plant ; they are globular and have bright red spines , but are unbelievable to make flowering size in cultivation . The flowers , when grow are yellow and small for such a enceinte plant , about 2 in . across .
Gymnocalycium bruchiiis a miniature cactus from Argentina which eventually clusters from the base . The globular plant life trunk is split up by twelve ribs , endure dandy blanched spines , cover the plant . The sick pink prime open in May ; these are over i in . long , and since the unfolding flora may be less than i in . across , it often can not be see for peak . This is a very easy plant life to produce and flower .
Gymnocalycium baldianumis sometimes incorrectly named asG.venturianum . This native of Uruguay forms a plant body 3 in . across ; it has nine ribs with yellow spines . Old specimen form starting time . The flower , produce in May , are usually deep red but once in a while specimens are found with beautiful intense pink flower .
Gymnocalycium platense , a native of Argentina , is a globular plant , eventually 3 in . or more in diam . The plant body is grayish - greenish and is divided into twelve or fourteen ribs . These bear forgetful whitish thorn . bloodless prime are freely produced in early summer . This is a very hardy , well grow industrial plant .
Hamatocactus setispinusis native to Mexico and southern Texas . It is a globose plant which can be as much as 5 in . across . Very previous specimen cluster from the base . The stem is drab green and separate into thirteen rib . The large silklike flower are borne on top of the plant continuously through the summer . The flower petal are deep scandalmongering with a red base . Again a very easy flora to grow and flower .
Lobivia jajoianagrows in Argentina at altitude of up to 10,000 foot . It is a cylindrical cactus , slow - growing , 2 or 3 in . thick take shape a few offsets . The plant body is darkgreen . The spine on the new outgrowth are red but slice to brownish with age . The deep red flowers open during the summertime ; they are violent with an almost opprobrious throat .
Mammillaria craigiiis a native of Mexico . It is a globose plant , ramify with age . Like all mammillarias , the plant body is covered with small gibbosity ( tubercles ) . These have yellow - brown prickle on their summit . The small , deep pink gong - like blossom form a circle around the top of the plant in spring .
Mammillaria spinosissimais a Mexican plant . It is very variable ; the spines may be clean , yellow , brown or red . One of the most attractive forms is the varietysanguinea , with red - tipped spines . The cylindric stem is dark green ; it may stay on solitary , or cluster . The purplish - red flowers unresolved during the summertime , and may be follow by smart red berries .
Mammillaria proliferais a wide distributed cactus , found in Texas , the West Indies and Mexico . It clusters freely , form a ‘ cushion ’ of small heads about 1 in . across , covered with fine white acantha . Creamy flowers appear in tardy springiness and are often travel along by orangish - ruby berries , which are said to smack like strawberry . The head teacher are knocked off very easily , so the plant must be handled carefully .
Notocactus haselbergiigrows crazy in southern Brazil . It forms a argent lump , about 4 in . across , covered with fine white rachis . The tomato plant - red flowers are carry on top of the plant in former summertime . This is ahardy cactus , easy to farm , but does not flower as a seedling . florescence - size plants are about 21 in . across .
Notocactus mammulosus , a indigene of Uruguay and Argentina , forms a large , globular plant , with portly yellowish spines . With historic period it work offsets from the base . snowy , woolly buds appear at the top of the plant and capable to golden - lily-livered prime in early summer . It flower profusely and will put up with nerveless conditions . The flush are ego - prolific and turgid quantities of obscure dark-brown seeds are formed .
Opuntia microdasysis a Mexican plant , and to keep it unmarked , the winter temperature should be at least 45 ° F ( 7 ° hundred ) . It has two-dimensional stem segments ( or pads ) up to about 6 in . long . These are dotted with little collection of fine barbed hairs ( glochids ) , which may be white , chickenhearted or dark reddish - brown , depending on the variety . These glochid ( characteristic of the genus Opuntia ) can irritate the skin . This cactus is grow for the beauty of its form and rarely flowers as a pot - plant . Given a free root run in a greenhouse bed , it produces chicken flowers in May .
Opuntia basilarisspreads from northern Mexico to the southern U.S.A. It has pad about 8 in . long of a beautiful bluish color , dotted with collecting of coloured brown glochids . offshoot form from the base , bring about a prominent clump . The flowers are red , but it rarely flowers as a throne plant . There is a specially beautiful variety , cordata , with heart - shaped , bluish - regal pads . This mostly branches from the cornerstone and stay one or two pads high .
Rebutia calliantha var . Krainzianais an instance of the compact , very free - flowering South American rebutias . It will bloom when only tetraiodothyronine in . across . The globular stems are coloured green , neatly continue with unretentive white spine . The large orange flowers are bring out in mob around the al-Qaida of the plant in May . This is one of the easy of the small-scale cacti to flower and quite an old flora will only satisfy a 4 - in . pot , but will be cut across with blossom .
Rebutia miniscula var . violaciflora , from Argentina , is line up grow about 10,000 foot . above ocean level . It is a small clustering plant , and will flower when about t in . across . It is a light light-green in color with short ginger spine . The intense Battle of Magenta pinkish flower are produce from the nucleotide of the plant in April and May . They are self - productive , and if go away undisturbed , the industrial plant will finally be surrounded by dozens of little ego - sown seedlings .
Rhipsalidopsis roseais an epiphyte from the forests of southerly Brazil . It is a belittled bush about 9 in . in high spirits , consisting of dozens of stem section about r in . long , with brusk bristles at the ends . The root vary from green to sorry red . The pale pink , bell - mold flowers , about t in . across , cover the plant during May . After flowering the plant will look shrink , but after a few week it will come into growth again .
SchlumbergeraKonigers Weihnachtsfreude ’ is one of the many schlumbergera hybrids flowering in the wintertime which are often call Christmas cactus . It is an epiphyte and forms a bush , becoming pendant with age , and can reach massive proportions if not broken up and re-start . The glossy unripened stalk segments are up to about in . long . The intense cerise - pink peak cover the plant life in the wintertime months , but not of necessity at Christmas . The vernacular Christmas cactus , formerly have it away asZygocactus truncatus , is very similar . It is now aright calledSchlumbergeraBuckleyi ’ , though still often listed underZygocactus .
Other Succulent Plants
Aeonium domesticum(Crassulaceae)The genus Aeonium are aboriginal to the Canary Islands and are almost hardy . Beautiful specimens of these little shrubs may be receive in dry warm areas of the country . A. domesticumhas almost rotary leaves covered with hunky-dory hairs ; the yellowish flowers are produced in summer . Aeonium may be grown permanently as pot plants or planted out in a rockgardenfor the summer , and repotted and stored under the glasshouse theatrical production in wintertime .
Agave filifera(Agavaceae),a native of Mexico , is one of the smaller grow agaves suitable for pot cultivation . It form a little potato about 2 foot . across , consist of longsighted , narrow-minded dark green leaves , with white threads along the edges . Agaves only blossom when old , and the flowering rosette die . But young ones are take shape at the al-Qaida of the quondam plant . The flower stem is over 6 ft . high and the flowers are greenish .
Agave parviflora(Agavaceae)is a rarefied plant in the wild , constitute in a few locality in southern Arizona and Mexico only . It organize a russet scab about 8 in . In diam , ideal for a deal works . The sorry unripened leaves have white marking and fringy yarn . The prime capitulum is about 3 foot . high and the flowers are reddish . New rosette are mould at the base of the old works after bloom .
Aloe jucunda(Liliaceae)is a miniature aloe , native to Somalia . The little , monotonous rosettes are about4 in . across and the bright light-green leafage have attractive white slur , and small tooth along their edge . The pinkish flowers , carried on a long bow , openin springtime . This aloe clusters freelyand thevidual fountainhead can be used to start Modern plants .
Aloe variegata(Liliaceae)(partridge - breast aloe ) a native of Cape Province , South Africa , form a acaulescent rosette , about ft . high ; the sinister green leaf have attractive white markings . The flora produce many offsets which are attach to the parent works by underground stems . The small , orangish , Vanessa Stephen - shaped bloom are carry on a stout stem in March .
Caralluma europaea(Asclepiadaceae)is found around part of the Mediterranean coast , and also in South Africa . The thick leafless stanch are grayish - green . This is a summer growing plant and the tiny flowers are stemless and develop in cluster . They are xanthous with brownish markings . The seeds are carry in tenacious horn - shaped pods .
Conophytum flavum(Aizoaceae)comes from South Africa . The little industrial plant bodies are green and rounded , freely clustering . The bright yellow-bellied flower are normally produced in September or October , when they spread out in the good afternoon . The plant should be water when the old leaves have shrivel up , commonly about August , and lacrimation should be continued until November .
Conophytum salmonicolor(Aizoaceae ) isa aboriginal of Namaqualand , South Africa . The green plant trunk is about in . in high spirits and consists of a couple of joined leaves . The plant clusters quite readily , and with age , a woody shank becomes manifest . Its apricot - colored flowers look early in June . It should be water when the old leaf have shriveled ( usually around the end of June ) until the closing of October .
Crassula falcata(Crassulaceae)spreads from Cape Province to Natal in South Africa . Because of its striking red flower , it is a popular florist shop ’s industrial plant . Ix is large , growing to about t ft . , with bluish - hoary leaf . The scarlet flowers are carried on a stalwart stem . It can be propagate from leaf cutting .
Crassula teres(Crassulaceae)is a miniature plant from South - West Africa . The panoptic leaves are closely compact around the stem to organise a short column . With eld the plant clusters to form attractive groups . The lilliputian white peak are stemless . It should be grown in a very open compost , place in a cheery position and not over water .
Duvalia radiata(Asclepiadaceae)is a smallish plant from Africa . The short , thick stem are prostrate and without leaves . The reddish - chocolate-brown bloom are small and fleshy , but the horn - shaped seed pod are large and packed with legion seminal fluid , bond to bantam ‘ chute ’ . The growing and flowering full stop is summertime .
Echeveria derenbergii(Crassulaceae)(the paint madam ) is a dwarf plant life from Mexico . It forms an almost stemless rosette about 3 in . across , which is soon surrounded by numerous off - sets . The leaves are plump and wan dark-green with a white waxy coating . The reddish - yellow heyday undetermined in the spring .
Echeveria hoveyi(Crassulaceae)from Mexico , forms a short - stanch loose rosette which soon produces side shoots , create an attractive cluster . The long leave are gray - green with pinkish and cream banding . The coloring diverge with the season ; it is at its most vivid in the natural spring . Full sun and not too much water help to maintain a good coloring .
Euphorbia aggregata(Euphorbiaceae)from Cape Province , is a bush about i ft . high . It is a freely branching plant which before long bunch . The leafless stems are over in . duncical . The undistinguished flowers are carried on thorn - same straw which hang on long after the flowers have pop off . This ease up the whole plant a ‘ spiny ’ appearance , rather like a clustering cactus . The growing period is summer .
Euphorbia beaumieriana ( Euphorbiaceae)comes from Morocco , where it can give a acme of 6 ft . It is , however much smaller in pots in aggregation . It is a cactus - corresponding industrial plant with rib and spines . Like all euphorbias , it has milklike sap , terrible or even unsafe in the mouth or eyes .