Spotted adromischus

Description

Adromischus maculatus, the spotted adromischus or calico hearts, is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae, which is endemic to the Eastern Cape and Western Cape of South Africa. Growing to 35 cm (14 in), it is a mat-forming succulent perennial, with thick spade-shaped leaves growing from a short, prostrate, woody stem. Plants are variable in colouring. Some are plain green, while others have leaves which are covered in maroon or brown blotches - hence the specific epithet maculatus, meaning "spotted". In summer (December-January), tubular green inflorescences are borne on 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) long branches, with pink or white lobes. Adromischus maculatus grows on the sunny, sandstone slopes of South Africa's Langeberg Mountains. It is widely cultivated, but does not tolerate prolonged frost, so in temperate regions is usually grown indoors as a houseplant. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Adromischus is a genus of flowering plants. They are easily propagated leaf succulents from the family Crassulaceae, which are endemic to southern Africa. The name comes from the ancient Greek adros (=thick) and mischos (=stem).