Tylecodon hirtifolium Ø 10,5

The natural bonsai from Little Karoo

Tylecodon hirtifolium is a hypnotic, elite caudiciform plant – a true “must-have” for collectors of unusual succulents. Native to South Africa’s Little Karoo, it stands out for its robust, knobby stem covered in greyish, delicately flaking bark, creating a perfect natural bonsai effect. At the branch tips, clusters of fleshy, cylindrical leaves in a fascinating grey-green shade emerge. In summer, after leaf drop, it amazes with a spectacular display of tubular yellow flowers. This species belongs to the Crassulaceae family and is renowned for its irregular surface marked by old phyllopodia (the attachment points of former leaves), giving the trunk an incredible sense of movement.

Growing notes:

• Exposure: full sun or bright partial shade. In summer, protect from the harshest midday rays to avoid scorching the caudex.
• Watering: very sparingly. During summer dormancy (when leaves are shed), withhold water almost entirely. Resume moderately in autumn-winter, when active growth resumes.
• Soil type: absolute drainage. A succulent mix with at least 50-60% inert material (pumice, lava grit, coarse sand).
• Fertilizing: once a month in spring and autumn with a low-nitrogen, high-potassium cactus fertilizer.
• Flowers: tubular, yellow, appearing in midsummer (January–February in the southern hemisphere) after leaf fall, creating a striking contrast against the bare wood.
• Did you know? Like many Tylecodons, it is a winter-growing species: it grows during the cool months and goes into complete rest during the scorching summer, shedding its leaves to show off its magnificent woody structure. Caution: all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested.

Not grafted
Code 1708