Flora canaria > Especies silvestres
Malephora crocea
Malephora crocea (Jacq.) Schwantes
Familia
AIZOACEAE
Clavel de sol
Malephora crocea, commonly known as copper mesen, sunbeam or sun carnation, is a species of perennial succulent plant belonging to the Aizoaceae family. It is native to South Africa, but has spread widely throughout Mediterranean, subtropical and coastal regions thanks to its high hardiness and striking flowers.
It has a creeping habit, making it an excellent ground-cover plant, as it develops prostrate stems that root easily on contact with the soil.
Its succulent leaves, which are semi-cylindrical or triangular in cross-section and glaucous green in colour, grow in opposite pairs.
Its flowers resemble daisies, with very vivid colours ranging from yellow to coppery orange and red, often with the undersides of the petals a purplish colour. They mainly open in sunlight.
In cultivation, it requires full sun to flower profusely. It does not tolerate dense shade well. It is highly drought-tolerant. It should only be watered when the growing medium is completely dry, avoiding waterlogging at all costs to prevent root rot.
It requires a well-drained growing medium, ideally sandy or stony, typical for cacti and succulents. It tolerates poor and saline soils, making it perfect for coastal gardens.
It withstands high temperatures and light or sporadic frosts.
It is commonly used in xeriscaping, rockeries, slope stabilisation, borders and hanging baskets due to its low maintenance requirements and its ability to cover large areas quickly. In some regions where it has been introduced, such as parts of the Canary Islands or the Mediterranean coast, it is closely monitored to prevent it from displacing native flora in sensitive ecosystems.
El Hierro, La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote
Clavel de sol
Malephora crocea, commonly known as copper mesen, sunbeam or sun carnation, is a species of perennial succulent plant belonging to the Aizoaceae family. It is native to South Africa, but has spread widely throughout Mediterranean, subtropical and coastal regions thanks to its high hardiness and striking flowers.
It has a creeping habit, making it an excellent ground-cover plant, as it develops prostrate stems that root easily on contact with the soil.
Its succulent leaves, which are semi-cylindrical or triangular in cross-section and glaucous green in colour, grow in opposite pairs.
Its flowers resemble daisies, with very vivid colours ranging from yellow to coppery orange and red, often with the undersides of the petals a purplish colour. They mainly open in sunlight.
In cultivation, it requires full sun to flower profusely. It does not tolerate dense shade well. It is highly drought-tolerant. It should only be watered when the growing medium is completely dry, avoiding waterlogging at all costs to prevent root rot.
It requires a well-drained growing medium, ideally sandy or stony, typical for cacti and succulents. It tolerates poor and saline soils, making it perfect for coastal gardens.
It withstands high temperatures and light or sporadic frosts.
It is commonly used in xeriscaping, rockeries, slope stabilisation, borders and hanging baskets due to its low maintenance requirements and its ability to cover large areas quickly. In some regions where it has been introduced, such as parts of the Canary Islands or the Mediterranean coast, it is closely monitored to prevent it from displacing native flora in sensitive ecosystems.
El Hierro, La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote
