Othonna capensis

New and different! this S. Africa native is delightful as groundcover or hanging basket where its succulent ?little pickle? leaves and many tiny yellow flowers on trailing stems make a great display. S/M

Othonna capensis, otherwise known as little pickles, is an extremely hardy South African groundcovering succulent with blue-green, nearly tubular, leaves held vertically that grow in spreading mats like a collection of little bluish pickles. Though it looks like an ice plant this species hails from the Aster Family and sports cute bright yellow daisies from late spring through fall. Grow in sharp drainage in full sun.

Yes, the succulent leaves do look a bit like little pickles, a bit like an ice plant. Evergreen succulent with surprisingly large, daisy-like, yellow flowers from mid spring through autumn. Forms patches 6" tall x 1-3 ft across wherever drainage is great and the light is bright. Likes a bit of summer moisture but prefers to be dryish in winter so....that drainage needs to be good. Easily frost hardy to 20F, USDA zone 9, much colder if dry in winter.

Unusual trailing succulent with leaves that do perhaps resemble little pickles. These 2" succulent cylinders are pale blue-green and clustered along spreading stems. Bright yellow daisy-like flowers appear in summer, but for most plant enthusiasts the unusual foliage is gift enough. Plant in full sun in well-drained gritty soil and provide moderate water. Plants are marginally hardy but do not fare well when cold temperatures are combined with wet soils. Plant in hanging baskets, along dry stone walls, or in decorative containers to enjoy this odd little wonder. Hardy to 20F. South Africa.

Othonna capensis, known as "little pickles or African Ice Plant". Tiny bluish green succulent leaves resemble miniature pickles. Likes very well drained soil and blooms all summer with dainty yellow daisies. A vining growing habit makes a great ground cover 2" tall . Needs sun. Hardy to zone 6 provided the soil is well drained.

There are many methods employed by plants for coping with dry conditions, and storing moisture in swollen leaves or stems (that is, being a succulent) is one of these. However, this strategy is little used in the daisy family, now called the Asteraceae, but formerly known as the Compositae. This is a very large family found all around the world, with well over a thousand genera, but succulence is notable in only two of these: Senecio and Othonna. Othonnas are mostly native to southern Africa, and they are particularly concentrated in the winter-rainfall areas of western South Africa and adjacent southern Namibia. Many of them have succulent stems, with plump bases that make them attractive as bonsai subjects, but a few have succulent leaves. One of the latter is Othonna capensis, a ground-hugging creeper with fat green leaves and small bright-yellow daisy flowers. The term “ capensis” means “from the Cape”, and is frequently used for plants originating in the southwest corner of Africa, near the Cape of Good Hope. This is the case with O. capensis, but it should be noted that some plants bearing this title come from other capes in other parts of the world. Othonna capensis has branching slender stems which trail outward, rooting where they come into contact with soil. The newer leaves look like light green jellybeans, while the older ones lower down on the stem are longer (up to about an inch, or 2½ cm) and resemble miniature chubby fingers. This species is very free-flowering and is in bloom most of the year, but the flowers are particularly abundant in the winter months. As with other daisies, the floral heads give the appearance of being a single flower, when in fact they are a cluster of tiny flowers. These heads are about ½ inch (1¼ cm) across.

Small, low-growing frost-hardy groundcover succulent daisy. Hardy to -10 °F.

Yellow flowers. Pickle-shaped green foliage.

Super cute?? Check. Super hardy?? Double check. Great name? For sure. Watch the blue-green (pickle shaped) leaves of this hardy succulent groundcover blush a purple red under stress & I’m sure you’ll be smitten, too. Happy yellow daisy flowers lend their cheer over a very long season – Spring-Fall. In the ground, a little extra drainage is advised, as too much Winter wet leaves the plant in a sorry, sulking state. In the rock garden or in pots, it shines! Leaves grow no more that 2” tall, flowers no more than 4”. Spread is usually around 8”. Pair with Orostachys iwarenge to double your cuteness! From the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa.