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  • A huernia pilansii succulent in bloom, with light green spiky stems and two maroon-red star-shaped flowers.
  • Detail of the pilansii cf. flower, a deep maroon-red with lighter cream center, and spiky cream-colored bumps lining the flower. The star-shaped raised center is dark maroon.
  • Showing the pair of flowers on the pilansii at a different angle, emphasizing the light-clored polka dots from the small bumps on the flower's surface
  • Side-view of the flowers, light pinkish elongated bell shapes on the outside
  • Detail of the flowers on the pilansii, dark red star shapes with a smaller point halfway between the main points of the flower.
  • Close view of the flowers on the pilansii, showing the color gradient from maroon-red to cream colored at the center, with petal tips also slightly cram tinted.
  • An angled view of the flowers, showing the petals peeled open and away from the center and a light pink and cream colored outside of the bell-shaped flowers.
  • Close view of a pilansii flower, showing the small bumps on the surface are a cream color with red on the very tip. As the flower fades to cream in the center these red tips stand out as spots
  • Detail of the pillansii flower in bright sunlight, looking a vibrant maroon red color.
  • Buds on the succulent before opening, shaped like hexagonal lanterns with a long point.
  • Full view of the plant not in bloom, with light almost mint-green color and lighter green tips on the end of some stems where there is fresh growth.
  • Detail of the stems on the huernia pilansii, tight bunchy growth of upright stems with some branching of new stems from the base
  • Looking down on the pilansii stems, showing seven spike-lined ridges down each stem. Many of the spikes are green but some tips are dried.
  • The plant with light purple stress coloration on the top portions of stems
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Huernia cf. pillansii

Huernia cf. pillansii

$10.00 USD
$10.00 USD
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Shipping calculated at checkout.
Type

Family Apocynaceae

Subfamily Asclepiadoideae

Tribe Ceropegieae

Genus Huernia

Species cf. pillansii

 

The qualifier "cf." means "compare to" that species because the plant is believed to be that species; it could be an unknown variant or a hybrid of unknown additional parentage, but the identification is ambiguous. In this case, it is an unknown hybrid grown from Huernia pillansii seeds.

The typical pillansii looks almost hairy with dense long fine spikes up the ridges, creating a bristled look. This variant has stems more like a lot of other huernia varieties. The typical flower is also a more aggressive pointed star shape without the webbing and secondary points between the longer points of the flower. Its flower is more red and yellow and covered in spikes, whereas this alternate bloom has a subtler combination of deep maroon and fall hues, with stumpier pale bumps on the surface.

I find this variant to have robust growth, producing healthy thick pale minty-green stems and quickly spreading once established. It takes on a bit of gray-purple stress coloration in fall and winter weather.

Options: The "parent" plant you will receive a cutting from is pictured. Right now we only offer this as a small plant with at least three stems of varying ages (shipped bare root). New growth can stay short and stumpy for a bit but stems reach about 4" once mature.

 

Growth habit Bunchy upright spiky stems, spreading by sprouting new stems from the base
Size Stubby stems 1-4", will spread horizontally to fill pots
Light Filtered sun, under a tree or shade cloth
Water Occasional water in growing season, allow to dry between waterings; leave dry over winter
Overwintering Tolerates 40°F, does best overwintering in a greenhouse
Flowers Blooms most readily in the fall, can have flowers in the spring through summer
Scent profile Light notes of musty poo
Native to South Africa
Conservation risk status Least Concern (LC)
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