Photo of Cephalophyllum stayneri flower, foliage by Stan Shebs

Photo by Stan Shebs

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Cephalophyllum stayneri

Also Known As

  • Ice Plant

Plant type

cactus / succulent, groundcover

size

  • H: 10"
  • W: 15"

planting zones

  • 9b-10b

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Cephalophyllum stayneri plant details

Cephalophyllum stayneri is an evergreen groundcover cactus / succulent with green foliage. In winter orange and pink flowers emerge. Grows well with sun and regular water. Does well in average, gritty and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Cephalophyllum stayneri

Plant type: groundcover cactus / succulent
Plant family: aizoaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 15 IN wide, 10 IN tall
Flowers: orange and pink blooms in winter
Uses: container plant, rock garden, xeric

GROWING CONDITIONS for Cephalophyllum stayneri

USDA Zones: 9b - 10b
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: regular
Soil needs: average, gritty and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Ice plant from S. Africa northeast of Cape Town with deep pink flowers tinged in orange. Stems on this species are often red hues. Zone 9
Cephalophyllum is a genus in the ice plant family (Aizoaceae, or Mesembryanthemaceae in the old classification system). Plants in the genus have finger-like leaves, with some kinds growing in a compact tuft and others spreading more widely and forming a mat. They have attractive vividly-colored flowers, and most are winter growers. They are native to the western part of South Africa and northward into southern Namibia. One of the spreading species of Cephalophyllum is C. stayneri, from near Calvinia, South Africa, northeast of Cape Town. It is smaller than Carpobrotus, the familiar ice plant seen along the coast of California, and it makes a neater and denser ground cover, not spreading so rampantly. While Carpobrotus can re-seed in coastal areas and become invasive, this is not a problem with Cephalophyllum stayneri. Cephalophyllum stayneri flowers during the winter months, like most other members of its genus. It has deep pink flowers tinged with orange, borne on stalks about 2 inches long (5 cm), held above the prostrate creeping stems. Its leaves are up to 2¾ inches long (7 cm) and green in color, tinged reddish or purplish-red if given a sunny growing position. The stems are often quite red. This species can take winter lows of at least 26° Fahrenheit (-3° C) without injury.

Gardening facts about Cephalophyllum stayneri plant

How to Grow Cephalophyllum stayneri

  • Sun Exposure

    • sun
  • Water Needs

    • regular
  • Soil Needs

    • average
    • well-drained
    • gritty

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • green
  • Flower Color

    • pink
    • orange
  • Flower Season

    • winter
  • Foliage Season

    • evergreen
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