Orbea schweinfurthii
| Light | Bright light with some shade from harsh midday sun; will scorch in full desert sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate in the growing season, letting the mix dry between waterings; keep nearly dry in winter |
| Soil | Open, fast-draining gritty mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Warmth-loving; keep above about 10 °C and protect from frost |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings (easy) and seed |
| Toxicity | Generally regarded as non-toxic, though the sap of some Apocynaceae can irritate skin; keep away from curious pets and children |
Orbea schweinfurthii is a mat-forming stem succulent in the family Apocynaceae, one of the African carrion-flower stapeliads grown for its small, star-shaped blooms. The flowers are five-pointed stars with a deep yellow to brownish, densely papillate corolla spotted with wine-red to maroon, a mottled patterning that gives the species much of its collector appeal. Like its relatives in Orbea, it makes an easy, fast-growing plant that trades spines for soft, tuberculate green stems.
Description
Orbea schweinfurthii forms low, spreading mats of prostrate to ascending stems, the slender green stems bearing spreading, conical tubercles arranged in roughly four rows — soft, harmless teeth rather than true spines. The stems are green, often flushed with reddish or purplish tones in strong light, and root readily where they touch the soil to build up a colony over time.
The flowers are the main event. Borne low on the stems, they open as small, flat, five-lobed stars only about 1.5 cm across. The corolla is deep yellow to brownish, densely spotted or mottled with wine-red to maroon and finely papillate, with a paler, purple-speckled central corona. As with other stapeliads, the blooms give off a scent to attract flies as pollinators — comparatively mild for the group, more like fermenting fruit than strong carrion, and rarely a nuisance in a bright, airy spot.
Distribution and habitat
The species is widespread across tropical East and south-central Africa, ranging from Uganda and Rwanda south through Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe to Botswana and Namibia. It grows in hot, seasonally arid habitats, typically tucked among rocks or in the light shade of shrubs, where the surrounding vegetation shelters the fleshy stems from the fiercest sun and the soil drains sharply after seasonal rains.
Cultivation
Orbea schweinfurthii is an undemanding plant well suited to beginners, provided its two main needs are met: sharp drainage and warmth. Grow it in an open, gritty mix in a pot with good drainage, and give it bright light with a little shade from the most intense midday sun to keep the stems firm and richly coloured without scorching.
Water moderately through the warm growing season, letting the mix dry out between waterings, then keep the plant nearly dry and warm over winter — cold, wet compost is the quickest way to lose a stapeliad to rot. A shallow, wide container suits its spreading habit and lets the clump fill out. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation is easy. Stem cuttings root quickly: detach a healthy stem, let the cut surface dry and callus for a few days, then set it on or just into a barely moist gritty mix. Sections that have already rooted where they touched the soil can simply be lifted and potted on. Seed is also viable where available and germinates readily in warmth, though cuttings are the usual route for keeping a named plant true. See Propagation — cuttings and Propagation — seed.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or cold wet conditions; affected stems turn soft, translucent and yellow-brown, often from the base.
- Mealybugs — white cottony pests that lodge between the stems and at the roots; check regularly, as stapeliads are prone to them (see Pests and diseases).
- Etiolation — in too little light the stems stretch, thin and pale, and flowering suffers.
- No flowers — usually down to insufficient light or the lack of a cool, dry winter rest.
See also
- Orbea — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Repotting · Pests and diseases