Duvalia elegans
| Light | Bright light with some shade from harsh midday sun; good ventilation |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly in the warm months; keep dry through winter |
| Soil | Very free-draining, gritty mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; frost-tender, roughly USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings and division of clumps; also seed |
| Toxicity | Not known to be toxic to cats or dogs |
Duvalia elegans is a small, low-growing stapeliad succulent from the Western Cape of South Africa, grown for its neat clustering stems and its star-shaped, dark maroon flowers with short, spreading, finely hairy lobes. Like other members of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae, in the milkweed subfamily Asclepiadoideae) it is a leafless stem succulent whose true beauty is in the bloom rather than the plant, and it belongs to the genus Duvalia, a close relative of the better-known Stapelia and Huernia. It is the type species of the genus.
Description
Duvalia elegans forms a low, spreading cluster of short, plump stems that hug the ground and branch freely from the base to build up a mat over time. The individual stems are soft-fleshed and toothed along their angles, green to bronzed depending on light and stress, and rarely stand more than a few centimetres tall.
The flowers are the highlight. Each is a small five-pointed star, usually about 15–22 mm across, with short, broadly triangular maroon to dark purple-brown lobes that are glossy and clothed in fine purple hairs, giving the bloom a soft, velvety look rather than the bare gloss of some relatives. At the centre sits the raised, ring-like corona — a fleshy annulus — typical of the genus. As with many stapeliads the flowers carry a faint carrion scent to attract the flies that pollinate them, though in Duvalia this is usually mild compared with the larger Stapelia species.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Western Cape of South Africa, where it grows in dry scrub on gravelly, often shale-derived soils, typically in low renosterveld between the Breede River valley and Riversdale. Plants tuck themselves into well-drained ground in the partial shelter of low shrubs, which shade the stems from the fiercest sun and reduce moisture loss. Rainfall is seasonal, and the plants endure long dry spells by shrinking and relying on the water stored in their swollen stems.
Cultivation
Duvalia elegans is an easygoing little plant for anyone already growing stapeliads, and it is unforgiving of only one thing — staying wet. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a shallow pot or pan that suits its spreading habit, in bright light with a little protection from scorching afternoon sun. Good airflow helps keep the soft stems healthy.
Water thoroughly while the plant is in active growth in the warmer months, always letting the mix dry out completely before watering again, then keep it dry and cool over winter to prevent rot. It is frost-tender, so grow it under cover or bring it indoors where winters are cold. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation is easy and usually vegetative. Detach a healthy stem or lift a rooted piece from the edge of a clump, let any cut surface callus for a few days, and set it on a gritty cutting mix kept barely moist until roots take. Established clumps can also simply be divided at repotting time. Seed is possible where it is set, sown on a warm mineral surface, but cuttings and division are quicker and keep the plant true. See Propagation — offsets for related technique.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or wet winter conditions; affected stems turn soft, discoloured and mushy. Remove rot promptly and re-root any firm, clean pieces.
- Shrivelling — deeply wrinkled stems usually mean the plant is thirsty or has lost roots; check the roots before assuming it simply needs water.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the crevices and among the roots) and root mealybugs are the usual troublemakers on stapeliads. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Duvalia — the genus overview
- Stapeliad — the carrion-flower succulents
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Repotting · Pests and diseases