Cotyledon orbiculata ‘White Sprite’

Small scale, shrubby succulent, best in full sun where leaves become chalky white with purple tips. Tidy salmon colored lanterns in fall. Coast / pot champion. Tough and easy.
height 8–20in
width 8–20in
tolerates Coast, Cool Summers, Drought, Deer , Fog, Pots, Neglect, Salt, Wind
water
needs
Low – Moderate
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.
hardy
to
25F
exposure Part Shade – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor
Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose, Low Needs
origin South Africa
california
native
No
sunset
zones
14–24

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

OUTDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Full Sun
Six or more hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Shade
Three to five hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Sun
One to two hours of sun beams directly landing on the plants leaves.

Full Shade
The plant is never fully lit by sun beams, but is in a bright spot or has dappled sunbeams playing over the leaves throughout the day.

Deep Shade
The plant never has dappled light on the leaves, and is in a place that feels dim, even on a nice sunny day.

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

While this Cotyledon will grow in sun or shade, they are more squat and vibrant in the sun, and they tend to get a little floppy-looking when grown in full shade where it also looses its powdery white coating.
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.