Plate No. 55

Pickle Plant

Kleinia stapeliiformis

"Striped stems crowned in scarlet brushes"

Native to

Rocky slopes of the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Botanical illustration of Pickle Plant — Kleinia stapeliiformis — drawn from life

Identification

Is this your plant?

Compare these reference photographs to help identify a pickle plant in your own collection.

Whole plant
A Pickle Plant shown in full — overall shape and habit.
Leaf detail
Close-up of Pickle Plant leaves — texture, color, and edges.
Flowers
Pickle Plant in bloom — flower form and color.
Growth form
Pickle Plant growing habit — stems, base, and offsets.

History

A brief account

A curious dwarf succulent whose upright, cylindrical stems bear purple longitudinal stripes and small scale-like leaves, resembling pickles standing on end. In late summer, each stem is topped by a vivid orange-scarlet brush of tubular flowers that draw sunbirds in the wild.

How to care for

Place Pickle Plant according to its light needs: Bright light with morning sun. For watering, modestly — every two to three weeks in warm months. For the potting medium, use very fast-draining sandy mix. Good drainage is essential: let surplus water escape freely and never leave the roots standing in a wet saucer. 10–28°C. Keep dry through winter. Check the compost before watering instead of following a rigid calendar, since light, temperature, pot size and season all affect how quickly it dries. During slower growth, reduce watering and wait longer between drinks.

How to propagate

Stem cuttings, calloused for a few days before planting. Propagation is most reliable during the plant's active growing season, when warmth and good light help new roots establish. Start with clean tools and healthy material, and keep the new plant in conditions appropriate for the parent. Where a cutting or division creates a wound, allow the surface to dry before planting unless the method calls for immediate rooting in water or moist mix. Once roots form and fresh growth appears, gradually move the young Pickle Plant into its normal watering routine; excess moisture is especially risky while the root system is still small.

Cultivation

Quick tips for care & planting

Light: Bright light with morning sun.
Water: Modestly — every two to three weeks in warm months.
Soil: Very fast-draining sandy mix.
Temperature: 10–28°C. Keep dry through winter.
Propagation: Stem cuttings, calloused for a few days before planting.