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A Visit to Cistus Nursery

I rarely go to nurseries anymore since I work part-time at one and another reason being that I don't have much room for additional plants. When a garden fanatic runs out of room, the brain goes into overdrive, dreaming up ingenious ways to incorporate more plants. And another thing happens - a burning desire to obtain rare and unique plants. I've been moving plants around, a tricky process that has a domino effect. A plant is unhappy - it is getting too much shade or perhaps too much sun. There is a plant that did not get as large as you thought it would or it is just a slow grower and now it is hopelessly hidden behind a taller plant. Sometimes a plant is just a dud for reasons unknown (Rhododendron 'Golden Gate' anyone?). I find the plant in question a better home, but it means that another plant will have to be moved. And the merry-go-round continues to turn... However, for those plants that are to be discarded, a space opens up for a new one! I decided to move a Mou...
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Dorotheanthus Mezoo Trailing Red



Following up on my previous post about favorite pot plants, this one comes to mind. I can never remember the name of it - Dorotheanthus 'Mezoo Trailing Red'. The genus name "honors Dorothea Schwantes, mother of the German specialist on succulent plants, Dr. Martin Heinrich Schwantes (1881-1960), archaeologist and professor at Kiel."  It was formerly known as Mesembryanthemum criniflorum. 

I had never heard of a common name but I did see on the Missouri Botanical Garden website that it is known as "Livingstone Daisy" (for David Livingstone (1813-1873), Scottish missionary and physician who explored the African continent). They also mention that "Ice Plant" is a common name. However,  I tend to think of "Ice Plant" as Delosperma, the smaller groundcover succulent. 

My co-worker Cindy brought it to my attention the first year I worked at Yard n' Garden Land. It did so well for us that I've purchased it every year since then. It is a native of South Africa where it is said to grow in poor soils. Despite that, it has performed best in good potting soil with regular watering and occasional feedings with liquid fertilizer. Full sun is best.

The plant forms a dense mat and is great for trailing down the sides of a tall pot. Blooming has been spotty, some years heavier than others. As you can see in the photo, this year it is sporadic but maybe it is getting ready to produce more. The red flowers are pretty but the leaves are the chief attraction. 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. DeniseSeptember 14, 2023 at 12:25 PM

    Pretty sure this is Red Apple, grown as a dry-tolerant GC in zone 10 aka mesembryanthemum aka aptenia -- not an easy name to remember! Red Apple works for me. Never thought of growing it as an annual but it is obviously vigorous enough to make an impact in one year -- great idea!

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    1. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2023 at 12:39 PM

      Yes, the former name was Mesembryanthemum criniflorum. It is perennial in warmer climates.

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  2. Kris PetersonSeptember 14, 2023 at 4:39 PM

    I know this plant by the common name of variegated red apple succulent. My mother-in-law planted it decades ago around their house in Malibu. That house (and many others) was lost in Old Topanga Fire in November 1993 but, when we went there following the fire to see if there was anything left to recover, we discovered that although the red apple was scorched on top, it was still alive and well underneath. Unfortunately, that was pretty much all that survived but it demonstrated the resilience of the plant.

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2023 at 6:23 PM

    Okay, another vote for "Red Apple". I had never heard that before. Thanks Kris!

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  4. hbSeptember 14, 2023 at 8:44 PM

    Must be a SoCal thing-- "Red Apple", or "Aptenia" are the names I know, too.

    Looks good in your photo! I don't see it much here anymore.

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