Pleiospilos nelii

Pleiospilos nelii is a dwarf, stemless succulent native to the semiarid regions of the Karoo in South Africa It typically forms two or four thick, fleshy leaves, often greygreen to brown, with small dark spots and a deep central cleft giving the appearance of a split stone, a camouflage adaptation in its habitat. A new pair of leaves grows from the centre each year, absorbing the older leaves.

In cultivation, it remains compact. around 510 cm tall and up to 10 cm across, and produces relatively large daisylike flowers, typically yellow to orange, about 67 cm wide, that open in late winter to spring (or late summer/autumn in some regions), often in the afternoon, closing at night.

Origins

Pleiospilos nelii is native to the Karoo and Eastern Cape regions of South Africa, where it grows in gritty, mineral-rich soils among quartz pebbles and low scrub.

Soil and Substrate

Pleiospilos nelii is extremely sensitive to overwatering and will quickly split, rot, or stack new leaves prematurely if kept too moist. Our Desert Mix is the right choice for this plant.