Cotyledon orbiculata f. undulata

silver ruffles cotyledon
Lima-bean shaped jade-green leaves with wavy edges look frosted with white powder. Expect dark orange bell-shaped flowers atop tall stalks in summer. Makes a low mound.
synonyms Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Silver Ruffles'
height 1–2ft
width 6–12in
tolerates Coast
water
needs		 Lowest
water
info		 Being primarily from South Africa, cotyledons are particularly well adapted to California’s climate and are extremely drought tolerant, especially on the coast where they often need no supplemental water once established. They are tolerant of overwatering in winter, and of underwatering during summer.
If you see your cotyledon begin to shrivel, lose firmness, or shed many of the lower leaves without replacing them, your plant is likely totally dry and should be watered.
Remember that if kept in a small pot your plant will want more frequent watering.
Will need supplemental water if grown in the sun in inland gardens.
hardy
to		 27F
exposure Full Shade – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing Low Needs
origin South Africa
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 13, 16, 17, 19–H2

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

While cotyledons will grow in sun or some shade, they are more squat and vibrant in the sun, and they tend to get a little floppy-looking when grown in full shade.
By pinching back the growth point (to just above where two leaves part), you can encourage your succulent to branch and have a lower bushier form. Do this by finding two leaves and pinching, snapping or cutting the stem just above them. Your plant will grow a new stem from each leaf and become twice as dense. These new stems can be pinched once a few sets of leaves lush out making an even bushier plant.
Cotyledons have candy corn flowers with recurved petals, usually dangling from an upright stem. Prune off these flowers once the stalks have dried.

Special Interest

The genus cotyledon are primarily from Southern Africa, and the name refers to the similarity of the leaves to the initial leaf that emerges from a seed (called a ‘cotyledon leaf’), which is uniquely shaped to fit in the seed.
These succulents are exceedingly easy to propagate from cuttings.