Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Macrantha'

Common name(s): Green Pig's Ear, Pig's Ear, Paddle Plant

Family: Crassulaceae Synonym(s): Cotyledon orbiculata 'Macrantha', Cotyledon orbiculata var. macrantha, Cotyledon 'Macrantha' Cotyledon macrantha, Cotyledon macrantha 'Rubromarginata'

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington at Tepko, South Australia

Bark

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington

Flowers

Taken by Ken Harrington

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 12th October, 2019 at Tepko, South Australia

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Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties

Origin(s)

South Africa

South Afri: Cultivar

Plant Type

Clumping, Deciduous Succulent, Evergreen

Clumping,

Deciduous Succulent,

Evergreen

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Arid-Semi / Steppe, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean

Arid-Semi / Steppe,

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Sun - Afternoon, Shade - Light

Sun - Full,

Sun - Afternoon,

Shade - Light

Habitat Range(s)

Desert Vegetation, Forest - Grassy

Desert Vegetation,

Forest - Grassy

Habitat Zone(s)

Dry Valley Slopes, Exposed, Exposed Stony embankments, Garden, Landscape, Open areas, Rock crevices, Rocky, Sandy Dry, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Well drained, Windy

Dry Valley Slopes,

Exposed,

Exposed Stony embankments,

Garden,

Landscape,

Open areas,

Rock crevices,

Rocky,

Sandy Dry,

Sandy Moist,

Scattered,

Well drained,

Windy

Mature Height

800-900mm, 900mm-1m

800-900mm,

900mm-1m

Mature Width

250-300mm

Plant Shape

Clump - Upright

Growth Rate

Moderate

Maturity

2-4 yrs.

Life Span

30-50yrs

Leaf Properties

Leaf Colour (front)

Green, Red-brown Tipped

Green,

Red-brown Tipped

Leaf Colour (back)

Green, Red-brown Tipped

Green,

Red-brown Tipped

Leaf Shape(s)

Obovate

Spathulate

Obovate,

Spathulate

Leaf Texture (front)

Waxy

Dull , Fleshy

Dull,

Fleshy

Leaf Texture (back)

Waxy

Dull , Fleshy

Dull,

Fleshy

Leaf Length(s)

90-100mm, 100-125mm

90-100mm,

100-125mm

Leaf Width(s)

60-70mm

Leaf Margin(s)

Entire

Undulate

Entire,

Undulate

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite & Decussate

Leaf Cross Section(s)

Bi-convex

Apice(s)

Obtuse

Base(s)

Cuneate

Obtuse

Cuneate,

Obtuse

Leaf Aroma

None

Leaf Attachment

Petiolate

Trunk / Stem Properties

Trunk / Stem Upper Colour(s)

Grey-green

Trunk / Stem Base Colour(s)

Grey-brown , Grey-white

Grey-brown,

Grey-white

Diameter / Thickness

15-20mm, 20-25mm

15-20mm,

20-25mm

Trunk / Stem Cross Section

Terete

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Winter Late

Flowering Time (end)

Spring Late

Colour(s)

Orange-red

Aroma(s)

None

Flower Shape(s)

Campanulate

Flower Size(s) Width

25-30mm

Arrangement(s)

Scape

Umbel

Scape,

Umbel

Pendulous

Arrangement Size(s)

300-325mm, 325-350mm, 350-375mm

300-325mm,

325-350mm,

350-375mm

Flowers per Arrangement

9-10

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Bees,

Birds,

Butterflies

Stamen Colour(s)

Yellow

Stamen Number

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Texture

Pliable , Stringy

Pliable,

Stringy

Colour(s)

Brown Dark

Invasiveness

None

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Shaley, Stony

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Shaley,

Stony

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline

Condition(s)

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Poor,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering, WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,

WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering,

WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Moderate

Bird Attraction

Insect, Nectar

Insect,

Nectar

Butterfly Attraction

Moderate

Frog Habitat

None

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Medicinal Use(s)

Leaves, Traditional/Folklore

Leaves,

Traditional/Folklore

Fire Regeneration(s)

Regrowth, Seed

Regrowth,

Seed

Fire Retarding

Good

Drought Tolerance

Good

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

None

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

0 - 2°C

Smog Tolerant

Moderate

Indigenous Use(s)

Leaves

Landscape Use

Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Heading, Periodic Pruning

Dead Heading,

Periodic Pruning

Pests/Diseases

Aphid, Mealy Bug, Scale, Slugs, Snails

Aphid,

Mealy Bug,

Scale,

Slugs,

Snails

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Border Plant, Garden-Container, Fire Resistant, Fire Retarding, Floral Art, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Cottage, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Desert, Garden-Informal, Garden-Medicinal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Xeriscape, Groundcover, Poisonous, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Garden-Border Plant,

Garden-Container,

Fire Resistant,

Fire Retarding,

Floral Art,

Foliage-interesting,

Garden-Cacti,

Garden-Coastal,

Garden-Cottage,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Desert,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Medicinal,

Garden-Mediterranean,

Garden-Rock,

Garden-Xeriscape,

Groundcover,

Poisonous,

Sunny Dry,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Low, Medium

Low,

Medium

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Wind Tolerance

Moderate Winds, Hot / Dry Winds

Moderate Winds,

Hot / Dry Winds

Poisonous To

Dogs, Cats, Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Pigs, Birds, Livestock

Dogs,

Cats,

Horses,

Cattle,

Sheep,

Goats,

Pigs,

Birds,

Livestock

Poisonous Parts

Leaves, Sap, Flowers, Stem

Leaves,

Sap,

Flowers,

Stem

Propagation

Hardwood Stem Cuttings, Offsets

Weed Potential(s)

New Zealand

N.Z.: Declared

General Notes

An attractive low succulent with large round green leaves, edged in red-brown, making a good, hardy drought tolerant filler plant or mass planted in the garden.

Propagation Notes

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Hardwood Stem Cuttings

Flowering

Jun, Jul, Aug

Cutting

Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb

Material Preparation

Firm to hard wood, tip or stem (bare, truncheon) cuttings. Cutting approximately 200mm - 1m long. Cut just below bottom node, remove lower leaves, flowers, seed pods. Place to one side and allow the wounds to callous and dry for 1 - 2 days.

Propagating Mix

140mm > Pots:- Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Treatment

Half fill the 140mm pot or tub with mix. Easiroot hormone may be used but no rooting hormone is really required. Place large cuttings in the pot or tub, fill in around the cutting and firm up mix until the cutting stands firm. Water pots or tubs thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Place in cold house, keep moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-99 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 4 - 8 weeks

Nursery Stock 4 - 8 weeks

Pot or Tub Mix:- Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Premium Potting Mix

Fresh Seed

Flowering

Jun, Jul, Aug

Seed Collecting

Sep, Oct, Nov

Sowing

Sep, Oct, Nov

Material Preparation

Collect the capsules as they are starting to dry out. Place in a paper bag to dry out thoroughly for 1 - 2 weeks. Rub the capsules between gloved hands to remove any seed that hasn't fallen out. Clean and store in a cool dark place. Sow as soon as ripe for best results.

Viability:-

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

Fill seedling tray BUT do not firm down. Sow seed, approximately 10mm apart, cover lightly with mix, then a thin sprinkle of fine 2 - 3 mm gravel, water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in a hot house. Keep moist but not too wet. Maintain hot house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 25-34° C, with bright indirect sunlight.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 3 - 6 weeks

Pricking out:- 8 - 10 weeks after germination (2 - 3 leaf stage)

Tube Mix:- 1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand