Flora canaria > Especies silvestres
Malephora lutea
Malephora lutea (Haw.) Schwanthes
Familia
AIZOACEAE
Clavel de sol
Malephora lutea is a perennial, creeping succulent belonging to the Aizoaceae family. It is native to South Africa and is widely valued in xeriscaping in arid and Mediterranean climates as a dense ground cover.
It is a creeping or prostrate plant that reaches a height of around 20–30 cm. Its stems root easily upon coming into direct contact with the soil, allowing it to spread and form a very compact ground cover.
Its leaves are opposite, fleshy, smooth, triangular in cross-section and have a very distinctive glaucous green or bluish colour.
It produces striking solitary flowers about 3 cm in diameter with numerous slender petals of a deep yellow or golden colour.
It flowers most profusely in spring and early summer, although in temperate climates it may flower intermittently throughout most of the year.
When grown in the garden, it requires full sun to flower profusely. It tolerates partial shade, but flowering will be significantly reduced.
It is an extremely drought-tolerant plant thanks to the water it stores in its leaves. It should only be watered once the compost has dried out completely; excess moisture can easily cause its roots to rot.
It requires well-drained soil, preferably sandy or stony. It does not tolerate clay soils that retain water. It can withstand extreme summer heat and light frosts. If the summer drought is particularly severe, it may shed some of its foliage as a protective measure.
Gran Canaria, Lanzarote
Clavel de sol
Malephora lutea is a perennial, creeping succulent belonging to the Aizoaceae family. It is native to South Africa and is widely valued in xeriscaping in arid and Mediterranean climates as a dense ground cover.
It is a creeping or prostrate plant that reaches a height of around 20–30 cm. Its stems root easily upon coming into direct contact with the soil, allowing it to spread and form a very compact ground cover.
Its leaves are opposite, fleshy, smooth, triangular in cross-section and have a very distinctive glaucous green or bluish colour.
It produces striking solitary flowers about 3 cm in diameter with numerous slender petals of a deep yellow or golden colour.
It flowers most profusely in spring and early summer, although in temperate climates it may flower intermittently throughout most of the year.
When grown in the garden, it requires full sun to flower profusely. It tolerates partial shade, but flowering will be significantly reduced.
It is an extremely drought-tolerant plant thanks to the water it stores in its leaves. It should only be watered once the compost has dried out completely; excess moisture can easily cause its roots to rot.
It requires well-drained soil, preferably sandy or stony. It does not tolerate clay soils that retain water. It can withstand extreme summer heat and light frosts. If the summer drought is particularly severe, it may shed some of its foliage as a protective measure.
Gran Canaria, Lanzarote
