Sarcocaulon crassicaule - 5 Seed Pack - Indigenous Succulent - Combined Shipping, NEW

Members of the genus Sarcocaulon, which is placed in the Geraniaceae family, are spiny, fleshy shrublets with delicate white, yellow, salmon-pink or pink petals ('flowers'), confined to South Africa and Namibia. The name Sarcocaulon alludes to the Greek words for fleshy, sarkos, and stems, caulon. Sarcocaulon is a genus of succulent, spiny shrublets with short stems, branching just above soil level. The fleshy branches are prostrate, semi-erect or erect, covered with waxy, translucent bark. The Geraniaceae family is widely distributed and consists of mainly annual or perennial herbs and shrublets, comprising about 700 species.

Members of Sarcocaulon are mainly found in the western part of South Africa and Namibia. The most widespread species is S. salmoniflorum and S. vanderietiae is the species with the most easterly distribution. One species, S. mossamedense, also occurs in Angola. Members of the family Geraniaceae have long been widely cultivated for their horticultural value. Members of Sarcocaulon are much sought after by succulent lovers! The fleshy branches, covered with wax, are flammable and can even when wet be used as a kindling to light fires.

Sarcocaulon crassicaule forms an erect shrublet, up to 50cm tall. The branches are usually more than 10 mm wide. The leaf blades are narrowly to broadly obovate and 6-25 × 4-16 mm. The leaf margins are crenate and slightly hairy or puberulous. The spines are straight or slightly curved and quite thick. There are 1-4 blunt stalks in the axils of the spines. The flower petals are sulphur to pale yellow. This species is indigenous to South Africa’s Northern Cape and Western Cape Provinces but can also be found in Namibia.

All Sarcocaulon species require direct sunlight when in full growth. Seedlings need to be regularly watered whilst they are in active growth and occasionally during dormancy.