Pleiospilos nelii

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splitrock

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Other common names

cleftstone, mimicry plant

Award of Garden Merit
Conservatory Greenhouse Cactus Succulent
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A succulent perennial with paired, hemispherical grey-green leaves to 8cm long, and daisy-like, pink-flushed, orange flowers 7cm across in late summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0-0.1 metre
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Aizoaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus
Pleiospilos are small, stemless, succulent perennials mostly with one or two pairs of very fleshy, grey-green leaves united at the base, and daisy-like yellow or orange flowers, sometimes coconut-scented, in late summer and autumn
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
S. Africa (Cape)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in standard cactus compost in full light. From early summer to late autumn water sparingly but regularly and apply a low nitrogen liquid fertiliser every 4-6 weeks. Keep dry at all other times

Propagation

Propagate by seed at 19-24°C (66-75°F) or detach offsets, from late spring to summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Vulnerable to aphids while flowering

Diseases

Generally disease-free