Orbea ciliata
| Light | Bright light with some protection from harsh midday sun; happy on a sunny windowsill |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate in the growing season, allowing the mix to dry between waterings; keep dry in winter |
| Soil | Very free-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Frost-tender; keep above about 10 °C, roughly USDA zones 10–11 |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings (easy) and seed |
| Toxicity | No serious toxicity reported; unlike many milkweed relatives the sap of stapeliads is watery rather than milky, but it is still sensible to keep plants away from curious pets |
Orbea ciliata is a low-growing South African stapeliad — a clump-forming, leafless stem succulent in the milkweed family Apocynaceae — best known for its single large, star-shaped cream flower whose lobes are fringed with fine, movable hairs. Long grown under the name Diplocyatha ciliata, it is a rewarding and relatively forgiving member of the group for growers who already enjoy Stapelia and Huernia.
Description
Orbea ciliata forms low mats or small clumps of soft, four-angled green stems a few centimetres tall, each edged with short, spreading teeth. The stems are leafless and often flushed with red or purple in strong light. Like other stapeliads, the plant spreads by rooting where the stems touch the soil, gradually building up into a modest cushion.
The flower is the main event. Usually borne singly near the base of a stem, it opens as a broad, five-lobed creamy star roughly 70–80 mm across — often finely spotted or flushed with purple-brown — the pointed lobes edged and tipped with slender white hairs that quiver in the slightest breeze — the "ciliata" (fringed) of the name. At the centre sits a distinctive raised double corona, a cup-within-a-cup structure that gave the plant its old genus name Diplocyatha (literally "two cups"). As with many stapeliads the bloom carries a faint carrion scent to attract its fly pollinators, though it is far milder than the notoriously pungent Stapelia flowers.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to South Africa, chiefly the semi-arid interior of the western and Northern Cape, where it grows in dry, open ground along the eastern margin of the winter-rainfall region. Plants typically shelter among rocks or in the light shade of low shrubs, rooting in gritty, fast-draining soils and enduring long dry spells by shrinking back and waiting for rain.
Cultivation
Orbea ciliata is one of the easier stapeliads and makes a fine introduction to the group. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a shallow pot or pan that suits its spreading habit, in bright light with a little shade from the fiercest summer sun — too much shade produces weak, floppy growth and few flowers, while good light brings out the reddish stem colour.
Water moderately through the warm growing season, letting the mix dry out between waterings, then keep the plant nearly dry and cool through winter. As with all stapeliads, overwatering — especially in cold weather — is the quickest route to rot, so err on the side of dryness. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation is easy from stem cuttings: detach a healthy stem, let the cut surface dry and callus for a few days, then set it on a barely moist mineral mix, where it usually roots readily. Because the plant naturally roots along its creeping stems, rooted pieces can often simply be lifted and potted on. Seed is also possible when available and germinates on a warm, gritty surface. See Propagation — cuttings and Propagation — seed for full walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual stapeliad affliction, caused by overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or damp cold; stems turn soft, yellow and mushy, often from the base. Remove affected stems promptly and re-root clean pieces.
- Mealybugs — white cottony clusters hide in the stem angles and around the roots; check regularly, as stapeliads are prone to root mealybug.
- Weak, etiolated growth — thin, pale, floppy stems and shy flowering point to too little light.
See Pests and diseases for identification and treatment.
See also
- Orbea — the genus overview
- Stapelia · Huernia — related stapeliads
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Pests and diseases