Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Cactus SucculentConservatory GreenhouseHouseplants

Cotyledon 'Elephant Trunk'

An evergreen, succulent shrub reaching a height of 20cm. Long, fleshy tube-like grey-green leaves bear a resemblance to an elephant's trunk, hence the name. Very easy to grow and requires minimal maintenance

Save to My plants

Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

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)

H1C

Botanical details

Family: Crassulaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Cotyledon are succulent perennials and shrubs with simple, opposite leaves and nodding, bell-shaped red, orange or yellow flowers borne in compact panicles
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a standard cactus compost, in full light. Provide low humidity. Apply a dilute low nitrogen fertilizer fortnightly during late spring and summer. Take care not to overwater, and keep almost dry in the winter. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for further details

Propagation

Propagate by cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.