Cotyledon orbiculata L.
pig's ears, cotyledon · plakkie, platjies (Afr.)
Photo: AVNPlants
Fast, easy succulent shrublet with thick grey or green leaves and hanging orange-red bells.
What’s in the name: Cotyledon: from the Greek for "cup", after the cupped leaves of some species; orbiculata: "round".
“Love your life, poor as it is.”
— Henry David Thoreau, Walden – Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1854), Project Gutenberg
Available from AVNPlants: see the availability list.
Family
Crassulaceae
Conservation status
Least Concern, SANBI Red List of South African Plants (assessed as Cotyledon orbiculata L. var. orbiculata)
Natural distribution & habitat
Widespread in South Africa, mostly on rocky outcrops in grassland, fynbos and Karoo.
Size & form
Low succulent shrub with fleshy green to grey leaves, often edged in red.
Flowering
Mainly June to August; often midsummer in the Western Cape.
Uses in landscaping
- Waterwise gardens and rockeries
- Pots on a stoep (good drainage essential)
- Texture in a well-drained border
Care notes
Full sun or semi-shade under trees. Handles moderate frost, though black frost can spoil the flowers. Sow seed in spring and keep just moist; avoid overwatering young plants.
Wildlife value
Nectar for birds and bees.
Find out more
Facts checked against: SANBI PlantZAfrica species page 'Cotyledon orbiculata'; SANBI Red List of South African Plants, Cotyledon orbiculata L. var. orbiculata (assessment 2005/06/30).