Pig's ear
Cotyledon orbiculata · Crassulaceae
📷 JJ Harrison (jjharrison89@facebook.com) · CC BY-SA 2.5
⚠️ Sève et feuilles contiennent cardioglycosides; ingestion par chiens/chats/enfants provoque troubles GI, arythmies cardiaques.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around pig's ear and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, fleshy and orbicular
- Blooming
- Summer (June-July), tubular red or orange flowers
- Mature size
- 40 cm in height
- Growth
- Slow
- Hardiness
- Not very hardy, grow in a pot in cold climates
- Origin
- South Africa
- Soil type
- Well-drained, mineral, poor
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Cotyledon orbiculata needs intense sunlight and very dry soil. Plant in a pot or raised rock garden, away from rich beds.
The common mistake
Watering like a normal plant or mulching the soil: it rots at the base or rhizome before January, even in dry climates.
The pro's trick
Take a fleshy leaf in May, let it dry for 3-4 days on dry sand, then place it lightly on the substrate.
Care
Watering
Water moderately during the growing season (spring-summer), letting the substrate dry between waterings. In winter, drastically reduce or stop watering altogether. This succulent fears excess moisture and root rot.
Light
Place your cotyledon in the brightest light possible, in full sun if your climate allows. Insufficient exposure can cause the plant to become leggy and lose its compact form. Indoors, position it near a south- or west-facing window.
Soil and substrate
Use very well-drained succulent potting mix, enriched with perlite or coarse sand. Avoid moisture-retentive soils. A pot with drainage holes is essential.
Pruning and maintenance
No strict pruning is necessary. Remove wilted or damaged leaves. If the plant becomes too large, you can trim it lightly in spring or propagate it by leaf cuttings.
Fertilizer
Apply diluted succulent fertilizer once or twice during summer. Avoid over-fertilizing: these plants thrive in poor soil. No fertilizer is needed in fall-winter.
Diseases and pests
Watch for mealybugs and spider mites indoors. Root rot is the main risk if watering is excessive or drainage is poor. If problems occur, improve airflow and reduce substrate moisture.
Did you know?
The orbicular cotyledon owes its name to the perfectly round shape of its leaves (from the Latin 'orbiculatus'). In South Africa, this plant is traditionally used in folk medicine, though its properties have not been scientifically validated: its sap is concentrated in alkaloids and requires extreme caution.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.