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  Huernia zebrina "magniflora" CACTUS ART
NURSERY

Cultivation and Mail Sale
of Cacti and Succulents.


Shiny, large flowers may look like plastic, but it's for real.

Family: Asclepiadaceae (Apocynaceae)  (Milkweeds family)

Scientific name: Huernia zebrina ssp. magniflora (Phillips) L.C. Leach
In: Excelsa, Taxon. Ser., 4: 139: 1988

Origin H.zebrina has a wide distribution being found in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, and the Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Provinces of South Africa. The ssp magniflora differs from ssp zebrina in having stronger, more robust stems and, as the name suggests larger flowers and grows throughout in the lowlands of south-east.

 

Description: It is one of the most beautifully flowering huernias. The flower is anything up to 8.5 cm (usually 6- 7cm) in diameter, star-shaped, whitish or yellowish with red or purplish spots and lines. In the middle of corolla there is a vivid annulus, on which spots often merge into a unique pattern. They are also very shiny and may look like plastic, but it's for real. Only the magniflora  form of Huernia zebrina looks similar and is easily recognisable. Flowers are also quite variable both in colour and markings.
Forms clumps with stems being toothed about 2 cm in diameter.

 

Cultivation: Huernia zebrina isn't difficult to grow and flower. Both subspecies require a very draining substrate with a big portion of sharp sand or perlite or pumice. They need winter temperature over 10 °C and they need very careful watering during warm days. As with other stapeliads, the most dangerous diseases and pests are black rot and mealy bugs.  The easiest way of propagation is by rooting stem cuttings or by sowing, if seeds are available. Half shade in Summer.

 

 

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This plant description is based on research and personal experiences and is too short to provide a comprehensive coverage of the subject. Do you see an error in what is shown? Or do you know more about the species than we are showing? Your help is greatly appreciated. Why not send us an email with further information or photos so that we can correct or extend the information provided?

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