Trichodiadema densum
Trichodiadema densum, Desert Rose is a small low-growing xerophytic succulent native to the eastern extremities of the Little Karoo straddling the provincial borders of Western and Eastern Cape from Uniondale northeast to Willowmore and a little beyond into the Great Karoo. The name Trichodiadema densum translates roughly as diadem of dense bristles and it is a good description of this gem of a succulent. Each leaf resembles an elongated swollen nipple not unlike a Mammillaria and is crowned with a circle of white trichomes - hair-like bristles. It has a large fleshy root that eventually forms a caudex and it can be grown with some of its root exposed to accentuate this characteristic. It is a prolific flowering plant and in spring is entirely covered in reddish-pink flowers with yellow anthers.
Although cold-tolerant and capable of sustaining a mild frost, Trichodiadema densum will not appreciate the fatal combination of wet roots and below-zero temperatures and for that reason is best grown as a houseplant or in an unheated glasshouse.
A gorgeous plant: a must-have addition to your collection.
Additional Information
| Order | Caryophyllales |
|---|---|
| Family | Aizoaceae |
| Sub-Family | Ruschioideae |
| Synonyms | Mesembryanthemum barbatum var. densum, Mesembryanthemum densum |
| Geographical Origin | South Africa: Western and Eastern Cape Provinces |
| Cultivation | Dry, gritty free-draining substrate. Full sun. Water well in the growing season and keep dry through winter |
| Eventual Height | 10cm |
| Eventual Spread | 40cm |
| Hardiness | to about -4C. Tolerates mild frost but not wet roots at the same time. Best as a houseplant n the UK but fine in a cool glasshouse and then under fleece if temperatures turn to extreme cold |
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