Nananthus aloides
| Light | Bright light to full sun; needs strong light for tight growth |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly in the cooler growing months; keep dry when dormant in high summer heat |
| Soil | Very gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Fairly cold-hardy when dry; keep above hard frost, roughly USDA zones 9–11 |
| Propagation | Seed; occasionally division of clumps |
| Toxicity | Not known to be toxic to cats or dogs |
Nananthus aloides is a small, clump-forming succulent from the interior of southern Africa that grows from a thick, woody tuberous root and produces low rosettes of narrow, keeled leaves peppered with fine dark dots. In autumn it bears cheerful yellow flowers, each petal often marked with a reddish central stripe, held close to the foliage. Like other members of the genus Nananthus, it belongs to the mesemb group of the ice-plant family (Aizoaceae) and is prized by collectors for its characterful caudex.
Description
Nananthus aloides forms small, slowly spreading clumps of rosettes seldom more than a few centimetres across. The leaves are narrow and roughly triangular in cross-section, tapering to a point and often somewhat recurved, with a firm keeled underside. Their surface is dark green to grey-green and finely speckled with raised dark dots (tubercles), a texture that gives the genus much of its charm.
Below ground sits the plant's most prized feature: a thick, gnarled, tuberous root, far larger than the modest rosette above it. Growers frequently raise the pot over time to expose this caudex, giving the plant a bonsai-like, weathered appearance.
The flowers are diurnal, opening from about mid-autumn, and are yellow to straw-yellow, often with a reddish or brownish stripe running down the centre of each petal. They sit low among the leaves and open in bright sunshine, closing in dull weather and towards evening.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the semi-arid interior of southern Africa, centred on the eastern Northern Cape of South Africa and extending into the south-eastern corner of Botswana. Plants root in stony, well-drained ground, often nestled among rocks and low vegetation that shelter the leaves while the swollen root anchors the plant and stores water through long dry spells. The habitat has hot summers and cold winters, so wild plants tolerate considerable cold provided they are dry.
Cultivation
Nananthus aloides is an undemanding little plant for the collector who respects its need for sharp drainage and a genuine rest. Grow it in a very gritty, mostly mineral mix in a deep pot that accommodates the long root, and give it as much bright light as possible; in weak light the rosettes stretch and lose their compact form.
In cultivation it is usually grown as a cool-season plant, making most of its growth from autumn through spring and resting through the heat of high summer; in the wild, in the summer-rainfall interior, it grows chiefly in summer. Water moderately when it is in active growth and the soil has dried out, and keep it dry during the summer rest — the swollen root is very prone to rot if kept wet while dormant. When dry, the species tolerates cold well and is reported hardy to around −12 °C (about 10 °F), though in cultivation it is safest kept above hard frost. See Watering and Repotting for general technique; growers often repot high to gradually expose the caudex.
Propagation
Seed is the usual method. Sow the fine seed on a gritty, mineral surface kept lightly moist and warm, and prick out seedlings once they are large enough to handle; young plants develop their thickened root over several seasons. Established clumps can sometimes be lifted and divided, taking care to keep roots on each piece and to let any cuts dry before replanting. See Propagation — seed and, for divisions, Propagation — offsets.
Common problems
- Root and stem rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from watering while the plant is dormant or from a mix that holds moisture; keep it dry at rest.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the rosettes stretch, pale and lose their tight form and speckled character.
- Pests — mealybugs can hide among the leaf bases and on the roots, and rarely spider mites; inspect at repotting. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Nananthus — the genus overview
- Aizoaceae — the ice-plant (mesemb) family
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed