Adromischus - Calico Hearts, Clam Plant, Crinkle-Leaf Plant

(Adromis'chus)

DESCRIPTION: This group consists of about fifty succulent plants, which are natives of South Africa. They are mainly grown for their fleshy, ornamental foliage, which comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. While some varieties grow from 4 to 6 inches high, most of these plants form small clumps. The small flowers grow atop single stems and vary in color from white to red. A. cooperi (Plover Eggs) has 11/4 to 11/2-inch long, purple-blotched leaves that are round flattening out to a blunt end. The plant grows up to 21/2 inches across. Its pale green flowers darken to purple. A. cristatus (Crinkle-Leaf Plant) forms small clumps of green, downy leaves. They grow up to 2 inches long and have very wavy ends. This variety produces red aerial roots, which cover the stems. A. maculatus (Calico Hearts; Clam Plant) grows up to 4 inches high with an unlimited spread. The pale to dark grayish-green, purple-speckled leaves are usually heart-shaped with a wavy margin and waxy tips. The flowers are white or purple.

POTTING: These plants can be grown outdoors in climates where the temperature doesn't fall below 41º F. These plants can be potted in two parts of loam and one of equal parts of sand and crushed bricks. Young plants should be repotted during the spring and summer. Older plants only need to be repotted into larger pots when they show signs of starvation. These plants prefer bright shade or diffused sunlight. They do like water applied liberally during the summer, but just enough to keep their leaves from withering during the winter.

PROPAGATION: Seeds may be sown in pots of sandy soil in the spring or summer. They are covered with a little soil and a pane of glass until they sprout. Afterwards, they are plucked out and planted, one inch apart, in pans of sandy soil and when large enough, transplanted into small pots. Cuttings made from side shoots or single leaves should be laid out for a few hours so a protective skin forms over the cut. They are then inserted in well-drained pots of sandy soil. No water should be given until the soil is pretty dry. The pots should be placed in the sun. Offsets can be detached during the summer or early fall and planted in small pots or in flats of soil.

VARIETIES: A. clavifolius; A. Cooperi; A. hemisphaericus; A. maculatus; A. rhombifolius; A. cristatus.

A. cristatus

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