Huernia thuretii var. primulina
Sunny, cupped yellow flowers are held low on the toothy stems of this clumping succulent. Stems have purple-pink markings in direct sun, but are green in partial direct. Pots and rockeries.
 Synonyms | Huernia brevirostris Stapelia thuretii |
|---|---|
 Height | 2–4in |
 Width | 5–10in |
 Tolerates | Drought, Heat, Pots, Rooftops |
 Water needs | Low |
This huernia is from arid areas of South Africa and as such likes to go totally bone dry between waterings, making it very low-maintenance. To get good healthy growth your plant doesn't want to sit around totally dried out during its growing season. Once it is dry, water it. This plant comes from an area with summer rainfall and is actively growing during that time, when it is forgiving of overwatering errors. During winter dormancy it should be kept extra dry and won't tolerate overwatering. Remember that if kept in a small pot your plant will want more frequent watering. | |
 Hardy to | 27°F |
 Exposure | Part Shade – Full Sun |
 Plant traits | Flowering, Ground Cover, Succulent |
 Indoor / outdoor | Indoor or Outdoor |
 Drainage | In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Requires Perfect Drainage |
 Fertilizing | All Purpose, Low Needs |
 Origin | SE South Africa |
 California native | No |
 Sunset zones | 13, 16, 17, 19–24 |
Growing Notes
While huernias are typically thought of as frost tender, this particular one has proven to survive frosts in protected areas of the Ruth Bancroft garden, showing that it is more hardy than typical stapeliads.
Growing this plant in extra gritty soil (mixing cactus mix with equal parts pumice) will make this plant more resilient to winter rainstorms...
Blooms from late summer through fall.
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The above information reflects the observations of Grubb and Nadler and our extended plant community. We always consider input from fellow horticulturists and welcome feedback from those with additional information on the culture of this plant.
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