Faucaria felina
| Light | Bright light to full sun; a few hours of direct sun keeps the plant compact |
|---|---|
| Water | Water when the soil dries; keep drier in the hot summer rest and cool in winter |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; a cool, dry winter suits it; roughly USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed, division of clumps, and leaf-pair cuttings |
| Toxicity | Generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Faucaria felina is a low, clump-forming succulent from South Africa and a member of the mesemb group (family Aizoaceae). It is best known for its fleshy, triangular leaves edged with soft, whisker-like teeth that give each leaf pair the look of a tiny open jaw or a cat's mouth — the source of both its species name (felina, "cat-like") and the common name cat's jaws. In cultivation it is one of the most frequently grown Faucaria species, and it is very often sold under, or confused with, its close relative Faucaria tigrina.
Description
Faucaria felina forms small, stemless rosettes that slowly offset into low clumps. The leaves are arranged in opposite, boat-shaped pairs, keeled beneath and roughly triangular in outline, with a firm green to grey-green surface that is often faintly spotted. Along the upper margins of each leaf sit several soft, recurved teeth tipped with fine, hair-like bristles; these are not sharp and bend readily to the touch, which is part of the plant's charm. As successive leaf pairs form at right angles to the last, the paired "jaws" stack into a compact, geometric little plant.
Flowers appear in autumn, opening around midday on sunny days and staying closed in dull weather: they are golden-yellow, many-petalled and daisy-like — the classic mesemb bloom — and are borne singly from the centre of a leaf pair. Individual flowers last several days, closing again in the late afternoon and reopening over successive days.
The species is variable, and older names such as Faucaria tuberculosa are treated by many growers as forms or synonyms; the tubercled, warty-leaved plants in the trade may be sold under either label.
Distribution and habitat
Faucaria felina is native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, around Grahamstown, where it grows across a range of semi-arid vegetation from Albany Thicket to karroid scrub and grassland. Plants typically sit low among rocks, gravel and sparse grass, often partly shaded by surrounding vegetation and frequently pulled down close to the soil surface. The climate brings hot, dry spells punctuated by seasonal rain, and the fleshy leaves store water to carry the plant through drought.
Cultivation
Cat's jaws is one of the easier mesembs and a good introduction to the group. Grow it in a gritty, mostly mineral mix in a pot with excellent drainage, in bright light with a few hours of direct sun to keep the rosettes tight and well-coloured; too little light makes the leaves stretch and flop apart. Water when the mix has dried out during active growth in the cooler parts of the year, and ease off during the hottest part of summer and again in a cool winter rest. Like most succulents its enemy is standing wet: err on the dry side, especially in low light or cold. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
It is hardy to just above freezing and is easily grown on a sunny windowsill, in a bright greenhouse, or outdoors in frost-free climates.
Propagation
Faucaria felina is readily increased by dividing established clumps: lift the plant, tease apart a rooted offset, let any cut surfaces dry for a day or two, then pot up in the usual gritty mix. Individual leaf pairs will sometimes root as cuttings by the same method. Fresh seed germinates easily on a warm, mineral surface kept lightly moist, and is the best route to raising numbers of plants. See Propagation - seed, Propagation - offsets and Propagation - cuttings for full walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, almost always from overwatering, a poorly draining mix, or water sitting in the crown while the plant is cold; leaves go soft, translucent and mushy.
- Etiolation — in too little light the rosettes stretch, the paired jaws splay open and lose their tidy shape.
- Pests — mealybugs can hide between the leaf pairs and around the roots; watch also for the fine webbing of spider mites in hot, dry conditions. See Pests and diseases.
- Mistaken identity — plants labelled F. felina are very often Faucaria tigrina or another species; the two are close, and care is essentially identical, so a mislabel rarely matters horticulturally.
See also
- Faucaria — the genus overview
- Faucaria tigrina — the frequently-confused relative
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation - seed · Propagation - offsets