Origin and Habitat: Little Namaqualand, South Africa

• Cheiridopsis herrei L. Bolus

Description: It is a small cushion forming leaf succulent.
Stems: Very short, each branch with only 2 or 4 leaves.
Leaves: Pale grey with many dots each up 2 cm long. They are very succulent often with tips tinged with pink-purple
Flowers: Yellow, up to 6 cm in diameter.
Blooming season: Autumn.
Remarks: Cheiridopsis are dormant in summer.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures.
1) Heidrun E. K. Hartmann “Aizoaceae F-Z” Springer, 2002
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass - Casuarinaceae to Aristolochiaceae” Cambridge University Press, 11/ago/2011
3) Hermann Jacobsen, Vera Higgins “Succulent Plants: Description, Cultivation and Uses of Succulent Plants, Other Than Cacti” Williams and Norgate, Limited, 1935

Cultivation and Propagation: The Cheiridopsis herreiSN|11168]]SN|11168]] is a "winter" grower which is most active from late winter until later spring and heading for summer dormancy, but in favourable growing conditions it keeps going over the summer too and doesn't need particular care.
Soil: Requires good drainage as it it is prone to root rot.
Fertilization: It thrives in poor soils and seems sensitive to an excess of potassium.
Watering: Water minimally in summer, only when the plant starts shrivelling, water more abundantly when they are growing in the autumn and spring. Requires little water otherwise its epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars).
Light: It needs a bright sunny or light shade exposure in winter, but keep cool and shaded in summer.
Hardiness: It prefer a very bright situation and will take a light frost (Hardy to -5°C) if it is in dry soil. USDA zones 9A – 11.
Uses: Container, rock garden.
Propagation: Seeds, cuttings. It is easily propagated by seed.