Delosperma echinatum
| Light | Bright light to a few hours of direct sun; a sunny windowsill indoors |
|---|---|
| Water | Water when the soil has dried; reduce in winter, but not as drought-hardy as most cacti |
| Soil | Free-draining gritty succulent mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; tender, USDA zones 9–11 |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings (easy); also seed |
| Toxicity | Generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Delosperma echinatum — widely known as the pickle plant — is a small, shrubby South African ice plant grown as a novelty succulent for its plump, green leaves that are covered in soft, bristly white hairs, giving each leaf the look of a tiny gherkin. Mature plants carry small, daisy-like white to pale yellow flowers. It belongs to the genus Delosperma in the ice-plant family Aizoaceae.
Description
Delosperma echinatum is a low, much-branched shrublet that sprawls and mounds outward rather than upward, typically reaching only 20–30 cm tall but spreading wider with age. The stems are slender and become somewhat woody at the base as the plant matures. Its charm lies in the leaves: short, cylindrical to egg-shaped and bright green, each one studded with soft, translucent white bristles (technically enlarged surface papillae) that give the foliage a fuzzy, pickle-like texture and the plant its common name.
Flowers are small — usually under 2 cm across — and open in the sun as white to pale yellow stars. They are modest compared with the vivid magenta and orange blooms of the hardy garden Delosperma species, and the plant is grown far more for its curious foliage than for its flowers.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, where it grows in dry, rocky scrub and among boulders, often scrambling through other low vegetation. Like many ice plants it favours bright, open sites with sharp drainage and tolerates poor, gritty soils. It is tender and frost-sensitive, unlike several of its cold-hardy relatives that are grown as ground covers in temperate gardens.
Cultivation
The pickle plant is an easy and forgiving houseplant, which is much of its appeal. Grow it in a free-draining gritty mix in bright light — a sunny windowsill indoors, or a spot with some direct morning sun outdoors in frost-free climates. It is a little thirstier than a true desert cactus: water when the top of the soil has dried, and it will wilt slightly to tell you when it is thirsty. Ease off through the cooler, darker months and keep it barely moist over winter.
In too little light the stems stretch and the leaves lose their compact, bristly look, so give it as much brightness as you can. Bring it indoors or under cover before the first frost. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation could hardly be simpler. Snip a healthy stem, let the cut end callus for a day or two, and push it into gritty, barely moist mix; cuttings root quickly and reliably. Trailing stems that touch the soil will often root on their own. The plant can also be raised from seed, though cuttings are the usual route because they are fast and keep the parent's form. See Propagation — cuttings for a full walkthrough.
Common problems
- Rot — from staying wet, especially in winter or in a heavy mix; stems blacken and collapse. Err toward drier and use grit.
- Etiolation — insufficient light makes the stems stretch and the leaves sparse, losing the tidy pickle shape.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff tucked among the leaves and stem joints) and the occasional aphid on new growth; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Delosperma — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Repotting · Pests and diseases