Plant with caudex - Plant Encyclopedia Results

Ibervillea sonorae is beautifully adapted to survival in its arid habitat. Extremely old specimens of Ibervillea sonorae may have caudices up to three feet in diameter. Ibervillea sonorae remains dormant throughout much of the year, but with seasonal rains, leaves emerge from the caudex on climbing stems.

Curious plant with tuber is above ground level covered with layers of corky bark, resembling a caudex. Slow-growing. It is a very unusual succulent. Its main feature is a large, corky caudex that grows up to one meter in habitat, resembling an elephant foot (hence the popular name). The caudex looks as if it is segmented into geometric patterns (smaller plants look like tortoises) and looks dead but is actually a living tuber. A plant with a 18" caudex can be 75 years or older. The plant grows into a vine with attractive heart-shaped leaves and small yellow flowers. Culture is relatively easy. A greenhouse is great, but a windowsill with moderate to full sun works fine, as long as the plant is kept at 65F minimum. The vines may die back and regrow several times a year, depending on the particular plant and your region. Several plants in the same pot can go dormant in different times. Tuber contains saponins, originally cooked and eaten as a famine food by the Hottentots. Slow down water when the tuber is dormant. The plant is is dioecious (male and female flowers are produced on different plants). The 0.2 inches wide (4 mm), greenish-yellow flowers are insignificant. Seeds are the only way to reproduce. The seedlings caudex forms below ground and will grow much faster if left underground for a couple of years. Prefers filtered light, and the caudex must be kept in shade. Elephant Foot is a collectors item, but remarkably easy to grow. It will be with you for years with no effort. It is a wonderful conversation piece!

Growing directions (by Ed Sienkiewicz)

D. elephantipes doesnt send down deep roots, so plant in a shallow pot (I use clay bulb pots) about 1" larger than the diameter than the caudex. Potting soil should be very porous/loose so that there is easy drainage. Think about the area in which they grow natively. Remember that these plants are tropical DESERT plants. The soil should be very loose and drain very freely. Allow the soil to come up and slightly over the edge of the caudex 1/4"- 1/2" so that the edges are covered. Water well around the edges, being sure not to get water into the point from which the vine will grow (usually there some pieces of old vine in the growing area). Keep in a warm area and wait for the first shoots of the vine to appear. Water regularly from that point on. Use dilute (25 percent of normal) fertilizer with each watering. The plant should not be kept damp as with other tropical plants. Allow it to *almost* dry before watering again. The plant has natural dormancy period. That being said, however, my experience is that the plant will go dormant when *IT* wants to. If the vine begins to yellow and die back, limit the water and stop the fertilizer. If the vine dries up cease all water and move to a cool place for a couple of weeks. Return to a sunny area and wait for the vine to sprout again. NOTE: Many books will say that they are winter growers, because they are native to the southern hemisphere. In my experience they are opportunistic growers. I have had them grow in all seasons. I have had plants that went dormant for a couple of weeks and others who were dormant for months. Let the plant be your guide. You cannot force them to grow, and over watering will simply cause them to rot. The Dioscorea elephantipes caudex is similar to Dioscorea mexicana, but the individual "squares" are far more pointed/raised. Related species - Dioscorea macrostachya (Mexico).

The plants should receive water mainly in winter and be grown in a well drained sandy soil.It rests in summer and produces new leaves and inflorescences in winter, the older leaves wither and drop in spring. It is particularly prone to rot if left cold and damp while dormant.

Short and thick succulent caudex branching into cylindrical arms dense with stout spines, and topped by a rosette of narrow oblanceolate leaves, and long-stalked sulphur-yellow flowers.

See other exotic species of Adenium, photo gallery of exotic varieties and Thai Adeniums - milti-colored, multi-grafted.

See article about Adenium.

Growing to a height of about 4-5ft, this succulent plant is a member of the same family as Plumeria. Its swollen, often twisted trunk, is pale grey. The leaves are glossy, and club-shaped and the flowers, which appear almost continuously, are trumpet-shaped and range from white and bright pink to crimson red. It exudes a highly toxic sap that in some places,is used as a poison for arrows. Adenium is not generally grown in moist tropical gardens but is often seen as a decorative pot plant; it may also be used in rock gardens. It needs full sun and a well-drained potting mixture. Exotic multi-color varieties can be grafted on the same plant. See other exotic species of Adenium, photo gallery of exotic varieties and Thai Adeniums - milti-colored, multi-grafted. More info about Adenium

Firmiana colorata, or Scarlet Sterculia, is a deciduous, small to medium-sized tree native to India and Thailand. It prefers organically-rich, sandy soil with plenty of moisture. This tree produces red flowers that hang down from the ends of its branches in short and dense panicles. The flowers are covered in a fine, downy hair, giving them a soft, velvety look. During its flowering period, Firmiana colorata presents a spectacular sight with its orange-red flowers against its leafless state.

Growing between 10-20 feet tall, its hardy to zone 10. This tree requires full sun and organically-rich, sandy loam soil with plenty of moisture, yet it does not handle overwatering well.

When in bloom, Firmiana colorata produces red and crimson flowers with a glossy, vinous hue. These flowers hang down from the ends of the tree's branches in short, dense panicles. They are covered in a fine downy hair, giving them a soft, velvety look. This flower is especially attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies, making it a popular choice for gardeners.

Young trees are often grown from a bulb or caudex and can even be grown as a bonsai plant. When planted in the ground, this tree grows into a large tree. During winter it often loses its leaves, and goes dormant. When flowering, it can be a stunning sight with its orange-red flowers against its bare branches.