Hoodia parviflora
| Light | Very bright light to full sun; a true sun-lover |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly in the warm growing season; keep dry and rested through winter |
| Soil | Very open, gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Warmth-loving; keep frost-free, ideally above about 10 °C in winter |
| Propagation | Seed; stem cuttings (allow a long callus first) |
| Toxicity | Not considered a common household toxin; the sap is bitter and best kept away from pets and children |
Hoodia parviflora is a clumping, spiny stapeliad succulent from southern Africa, forming upright clusters of stout, ribbed grey-green stems edged with hard, thorn-like tubercles. Along the ribs it produces masses of small, flat, star-shaped maroon flowers — the epithet parviflora means "small-flowered" — that appear stacked in tight rows up the stems. Despite the fierce spines it is a member of the milkweed family Apocynaceae, not a true cactus, and belongs to the genus Hoodia.
Description
Hoodia parviflora builds up into a dense clump of erect stems, each stem cylindrical, firm and armed with many rows of hardened, spine-tipped tubercles running along its ribs. The colour is a matte grey-green to bluish, and older clumps can become quite large and imposing for a stapeliad. Unlike the leafy succulents it is often grown alongside, the plant is essentially leafless, doing all its photosynthesis in the stems.
The flowers are the distinguishing feature: small, flattened, five-lobed and a deep dull maroon to brownish-red, borne close against the ribs rather than on long stalks. They open in flushes and, like many stapeliads, can carry a faintly unpleasant scent that attracts fly pollinators. The overall effect of a flowering clump is of countless little dark stars pressed along the spiny stems.
Distribution and habitat
The genus Hoodia is native to the arid and semi-arid regions of southern Africa, including Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, where the plants grow in hot, dry, open country among rocks and sparse scrub. Hoodia parviflora itself is native to South Africa. Like its relatives, it is adapted to strong sun, sharp drainage and long dry spells, storing water in its swollen stems and enduring conditions that would quickly kill less specialised plants.
Cultivation
Hoodia parviflora is grown much like other demanding stapeliads: give it the brightest position you can and a very open, gritty mix that dries quickly. It enjoys real sun and warmth in the growing season, when it can be watered thoroughly and then allowed to dry out completely before the next drink. Overwatering — especially in cool or dull conditions — is the commonest cause of loss, as the stems rot rapidly from the base.
Through winter, keep the plant warm, dry and rested; Hoodia resents cold wet roots and is not frost-hardy. Because good airflow helps prevent rot, an airy spot and a snug pot both help. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation is by seed or by stem cuttings. Cuttings should be taken cleanly and left to callus for a good while before being set on a barely-moist gritty surface, as the cut surfaces are prone to rot if kept damp. Seed, where available, is sown on a warm mineral mix; Hoodia can be slower and fussier than many stapeliads, so patience and scrupulous drainage matter.
Common problems
- Rot — by far the biggest risk; soft, blackening patches at the stem base follow overwatering, poor drainage or cold damp conditions.
- Etiolation — too little light produces thin, weak, over-stretched stems instead of stout clumps.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff between the tubercles and at the roots) and, in dry stagnant air, spider mites are the usual offenders. See Pests and diseases.
Legal status
Like other members of its genus, Hoodia parviflora is listed on CITES Appendix II. This means international trade in the plants (and their parts and derivatives) is regulated and generally requires the appropriate CITES permits; nursery-propagated plants can be traded legally when the correct paperwork is in place, but wild collection and undocumented cross-border trade are restricted. Growers moving plants or seed between countries should check the current permit requirements before doing so.
Hoodia has a long history of traditional use by San peoples of southern Africa and later attracted commercial interest, which is part of the reason the genus is protected; this article is a horticultural reference only and gives no guidance on any use of the plant beyond growing it as an ornamental succulent.
See also
- Hoodia — the genus overview
- Stapeliads and other Apocynaceae succulents
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Pests and diseases · CITES