Drosanthemum micans

EASY TO GROW bringer of sunshine. EVERBLOOMING here along the coast-even in Winter, its form is tight & compact with small, dense, bright-green foliage 2.5’ tall & about 3’ across. Smothering itself in golden centered, red-tipped sunniest-yellow, many-rayed blooms 2” across, it’s one of those big-bang-for-the-buck fellows. Native to S. Africa & highly drought tolerant, it does look best with at least occasional water & a bit of compost. Super for edging a rock garden, in a container (at least 2’ wide) or anywhere you need a carefree wonder plant. Cut back once a year for best show.

First bloom in 2015: Feb 24

The flowers close up at night — very quickly. The flower in the feature image closed up in less than 20 minutes.

Here’s another description of it:
Drosanthemum micans is a low-growing, dense, compact, perennial shrublet that can attain a height of 0.6 m under ideal conditions. Drosanthemum micans has a fibrous root system and is shallow rooted. Like all Drosanthemums, it is characterized by the dewdrop-like beads known as papillae found on the branches and flower stems. The leaves are opposite and nearly always equal. The flowers have red outer petals with chrome yellow inner petals. Flowers are borne in spring. The word Drosanthemum originates from the Greek word dros, meaning dew-like (hence the shining papillae) and anthemum means flower. If one looks at the flowers in the midday sun they do almost glisten. The specific epiphet micans also refers to the shiny, sparkling appearance.

drosanthemum

Details

Drosanthemum micans
Family: Aizoaceae (ay-zoh-AY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus: Drosanthemum (dros-ANTH-eh-mum) (Info)
Species: micans

Category: Tropicals and Tender Perennials; Cactus and Succulents

Height: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)

Spacing: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)

Sun Exposure: Full Sun; Sun to Partial Shade

Danger: Unknown – Tell us

Bloom Color: Red; Gold (Yellow-Orange)

Bloom Time: Mid Spring; Blooms repeatedly

Foliage: Succulent

Other details: Unknown – Tell us

Soil pH requirements: Unknown – Tell us

Patent Information: Non-patented

Propagation Methods: From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall; From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse

Seed Collecting: Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds

Read more: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/194667/#ixzz3Shyu7uC2

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