Fockea

Fockea is a small genus of caudiciform, milky-sapped vines in the dogbane family Apocynaceae (subfamily Asclepiadoideae, the old milkweeds), native mainly to the drylands of southern Africa. Growers prize them for their large swollen underground tuber, or caudex, from which thin twining stems emerge each season — a classic "fat-bottomed" succulent that is easy to lift and display above the soil once established.

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Fockeas have a long history in cultivation: the celebrated "Old Lady of Schönbrunn" — a specimen of Fockea capensis, long grown under its horticultural synonym Fockea crispa — has been kept at the Schönbrunn palace garden in Vienna since the late 1700s and is often cited as one of the oldest surviving pot plants in the world.

Description

All Fockea species grow from a fleshy tuberous rootstock (a caudex) that in habitat sits mostly buried, storing water and nutrients against long dry spells. The caudex is typically rough-barked, greyish and irregularly lumpy, and can swell to the size of a football or larger in old plants. From its crown rise slender, twining or scrambling stems bearing pairs of small opposite leaves; foliage shape ranges from narrow and grassy to broad and wavy-margined depending on the species.

Like other members of the family, the plants carry a milky latex, and their small five-lobed flowers are borne in the leaf axils — usually modest, greenish to cream or pale yellow, sometimes faintly scented. The caudex is the ornamental feature; the leafy vine is comparatively unassuming and often dies back in the resting season.

Distribution

The genus is centred on southern Africa — chiefly South Africa and Namibia — with a couple of species ranging north into tropical Africa. Plants grow in semi-desert scrub, rocky slopes and sandy flats, where the tuber is protected below ground and the annual stems climb up through surrounding shrubs to reach the light. In the wild the caudex is almost entirely hidden; the plump specimens seen in collections are the result of growers gradually raising the tuber above the soil.

Notable species

Fockea edulis — the most widely grown species; its tuber (known as kambro or "Hottentot bread") is traditionally eaten in parts of South Africa, and it makes a forgiving, fast-swelling caudex for beginners.
Fockea capensis — a Cape species, widely grown under the synonym Fockea crispa; this is the plant of the historic centuries-old Schönbrunn specimen, distinguished by wavy, crisped leaf margins and a handsomely textured caudex.
Fockea comaru — a compact species with a large partly-buried tuber and narrow leaves.
Fockea angustifolia — a widespread, narrow-leaved species of the drier interior.

Cultivation

Fockeas are among the more forgiving caudex plants. Grow them in a gritty, free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a pot deep enough to accommodate the tuber, in bright light. During the warm growing season the vine appreciates regular but not excessive water; let the mix approach dryness between drinks. As the plant slows and drops its leaves for winter, taper watering right down and keep it drier and cooler — the tuber is prone to rot if left wet and cold.

To develop the display caudex that collectors love, plant young specimens with the tuber buried, then lift it a little higher at each repotting over several years so the swollen root gradually sits proud of the soil. Give the stems a small trellis or let them scramble; they can be trimmed to keep the plant tidy. Note that Fockea plants are dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants), so a single plant will not set viable seed on its own.

Hobby and cultivar notes

There is little named-cultivar activity in Fockea; interest centres on the natural species and on how boldly the caudex can be grown and exposed. F. edulis dominates the trade because it is quick, tough and readily raised from seed, and it grafts and roots more willingly than some of its relatives. Because plants are single-sexed, seed production requires more than one clone; where seed is unavailable, growers propagate from stem cuttings, though cutting-grown plants are slower to build a substantial tuber than seedlings. See Propagation - seed for raising fresh stock.

References

Horticultural information for growing these plants as ornamentals. Always confirm plant identification and any handling, grafting, or safety advice against authoritative sources before acting.