Cheiridopsis peculiaris aka Cheiridopsis Peculiaris

Cheiridopsis peculiaris is a small succulent, in the family Aizoaceae. Its home is Namaqualand, in South Africa's northwestern Cape. LLIFLE puts its small range just west of Steinkopf. It grows there on mild slopes of reddish-brown clay. Its colours help it blend with the bare ground. Wild plants grow at heights of 1,969–3,281 feet [600–1,000 metres].

This low plant stays green and lives for years. It can spread to form small mats. In gardens, it grows about 0.33 feet [0.1 metres] tall and wide. RHS says most plants have no branches. LLIFLE notes two or three branches. Plants take two to five years to reach full size. Leaf shape changes through the year's growth cycle. In active growth, long leaves lie flat on the soil. They reach about 0.16 feet [0.05 metres] long. Their broad blades have a triangle or egg shape. They join at the base. With age, they dry to a thin, paper-like cover.

The short leaves formed at rest stand upright. They join for almost their whole length, forming a cone. Its tip can be sharp or blunt. In dry weather, it wraps the next long leaf pair. Leaves range from grey-green to purple, with darker side dots. Old leaf parts stay as a sheath round the base. The pale yellow blooms look like small daisies. LLIFLE also notes blooms with a red tint. Blooms span about 0.08–0.11 feet [0.025–0.035 metres]. RHS gives summer as the bloom season.

Give it full sun and dry air when grown under glass. RHS calls for equal parts loam and sharp sand. Add leaf mould at half the amount of either part. It likes alkaline soil that drains well. The sources differ on when to water it. RHS says to water sparingly from summer to mid-autumn. Keep it dry at other times. LLIFLE notes growth in autumn and activity in winter. It also notes a long summer rest. Both say to keep it dry while it rests. LLIFLE suggests watering with care from below. Strong light helps it bloom. Its RHS H2 rating means it cannot survive freezing.

RHS suggests this small plant for pots and patio displays. It needs no pruning, and reports list few disease problems. Mealybugs may attack plants grown under glass. Growers can use seed or root stem cuttings. RHS gives late spring or early summer for taking cuttings. It suggests 19–24°C to sprout seeds. The supplied sources give no evidence on edible uses or toxicity.