Botanical Name |
Huernia insigniflora |
Other names |
Huernia zebrina subspecies insigniflora; Huernia confusa; cherry lifesaver |
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Asclepiadaceae |
Dimensions |
A perennial succulent growing in multistemmed clumps, spreading through suckers |
Description of Stem |
Four or five edged succulent stems with rows of sharp, soft teeth; grey-green in colour, sometimes with purplish patches; up to 15 cm tall |
Description of Leaves |
Stems only |
Description of flowers |
Flowers in five parts, a cream five-lobed corolla with fine maroon mottling on the upper surface; the five-pointed corolla has small subsidiary tips where the lobes join; a pronounced and shiny brick or coral red ring (annulus) protrudes above the flower surface, with fine hairs on its inner edge |
Description of seed/fruit |
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Description of roots |
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Variation |
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Propagation and Cultivation |
Grows from herbaceous stem cuttings or by dividing clumps; easy to grow if not over-watered |
Tolerances |
Somewhat drought tolerant; full sun may be damage, better in semi-shade conditions; may be frost tender |
Uses |
Internationally popular gardening subject with striking flowers |
Ecological rarity |
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Pests and Diseases |
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Other |
Nurseries sell different Huernias under this name when website flower pictures are studied, hence the name variations mentioned above |
Location |
Granite hills and outcrops, sandy soil, semi-shade |
Distribution |
Limpopo, Mpumalanga (reports of it growing in the Eastern and Western Cape Karroo areas may relate to a confusion of species?) |
Country |
South Africa |