Gibbaeum velutinum
| Light | Bright light with some direct sun; a few hours of gentle morning sun suits it well |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; water during the cooler growing months and keep dry through hot summer dormancy |
| Soil | Very free-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed, or division of established clumps |
| Toxicity | Not known to be toxic to cats and dogs |
Gibbaeum velutinum is a low, clumping succulent from the winter-rainfall region of South Africa, a member of the mesemb group in the ice-plant family Aizoaceae. It is grown for its distinctive finger-like, unequal paired leaves, which are covered in a fine velvety felt that gives the plant a soft grey-green cast, and for its magenta-pink daisy-like flowers. Over time it spreads into loose cushions of overlapping leaf pairs, making it one of the more approachable members of the genus Gibbaeum for a collector.
Description
Gibbaeum velutinum grows as a mat-forming succulent built from paired leaves fused at the base. As in many members of the genus, the two leaves of a pair are markedly unequal in size, giving the little bodies a lopsided, boat-like or finger-like shape. The surface is clothed in short, dense hairs — the velutinum ("velvety") of the name — which lend a soft, matte, greyish to sage-green finish and help scatter strong light.
The plant offsets freely, and as pairs multiply it builds up into a low, sprawling clump rather than staying a tidy single head. Daisy-like flowers, in shades of pink to magenta and usually marked with a darker stripe down each petal, open singly from between the leaves from late winter into spring, each lasting several days.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the Little Karoo (Klein Karoo) region of the Western Cape in South Africa, where it is known only from a small area west of Barrydale. This is a semi-arid region of low, mostly winter rainfall and hot, dry summers. Plants grow on shale ridges and shallow clay soils, often part-buried and nestled among low shrubs that shade them from the harshest sun and heat. This winter-rainfall origin is the key to understanding their growth rhythm in cultivation. With a naturally restricted range, it is a range-restricted endemic assessed as Vulnerable in the Red List of South African plants.
Cultivation
Like most mesembs, Gibbaeum velutinum rewards restraint. Grow it in a very free-draining, largely mineral mix in a pot with good drainage, and give it bright light with some direct sun to keep the clump compact and the leaves well-coloured. Too little light produces soft, stretched growth that loses the plant's neat, hugging habit.
The single most important point is watering in step with its natural cycle. As a winter grower, it takes water mainly through the cooler months and rests in the heat of summer, when it should be kept dry or nearly so. Overwatering — especially during the summer rest, or in a mix that stays wet — is the usual cause of rot and collapse. Water thoroughly when the plant is in active growth and the soil has dried, then allow it to dry again. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
The species can be raised from seed sown onto a fine, gritty surface kept lightly moist and warm, in the manner usual for mesembs; see Propagation — seed. Because established plants clump so readily, division is often the easier route — mature clumps can be lifted and separated into rooted pieces, and detached heads treated much like offsets, left to callus briefly before being set on barely-moist mineral mix to root.
Common problems
- Rot — the most frequent cause of loss, usually from watering during summer dormancy, a slow-draining mix, or a pot that holds moisture; affected bodies go soft and translucent.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the leaf pairs stretch and pale, and the clump loses its tight, low form.
- Pests — mealybugs can hide among the crowded leaf pairs and at the roots; watch also for the fine webbing of spider mites in hot, dry conditions. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Gibbaeum — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Repotting · Pests and diseases