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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Origin: Japan (Asia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Pale Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Fall |
| Synonyms: [O. malacophyllus var. iwarenge, Hort] |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: <1 foot |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: < 0 °F |
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Orostachys boehmeri (Chinese Dunce Cap) - An attractive small succulent from Japan with soft lavender-gray leaves in 1 to 2 inch wide open rosettes that offset readily producing small plantlets on spaghetti thin stems that radiate 2 to 6 inches away from the mature rosettes to form an open plant to about 1 foot across. After several years these rosettes can produce tiny pale yellow flowers with greenish bracts on 6 inch tall spikes that are described as the shape of an inverted ice cream cone, or as the common name we list implies, like a Dunce Cap (not sure why Chinese!) – flowering often commences in early autumn but may begin as late as November – we have not seen this plant flower in Southern California yet. The flowering rosette dies after flowering but is quickly replaced by offsetting ones. Plant in sun or partial shade in a very well-drained porous soil. It is hardy to at least -5°F (some say -35°F) and tolerates infrequent irrigation but looks best when given an occasional to regular watering but does not like to be in wet soil in winter so good drainage is a real requirement in mediterranean climates. A interesting and attractive plant for use as a small ground cover or pot subject on its own or used to intermingle with a mixed planting. There is certainly much confusion surrounding this genus and the various species. Orostachys is sometimes lumped with other genera of the Crassulaceae, including Cotyledon and Sedum. We purchased our stock plants as Orostachys macrophylla var. iwarenge but it very much resembles the plant pictured as Orostachys boehmeri in Hermann Jacobsen's “A Handbook of Succelent Plants” Volume 2 (Balanford Press, Dorsett, GB, 1960) and some list these names as synonymous though others note that O. boehmeri have rosettes more globular in shape and offsettiing while O. malacophyllus var. iwarenge has more open rosettes and is solitary. Orostachys malacophyllus is a plant with a range that extends from Russian south to Mongolia, China, Korea and northern Japan and the variety iwarenge is noted as from Japan as is Orostachys boehmeri. In Dr. Hideaki Ohba's treatment in “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Crassulaceae” (Eggli, Urs (Ed.) Springer, Berlin, 2003) he notes that the Orostachys boehmeri differs from O. malacophyllus in floral characteristics (which we haven't seen) and by having more globose rosettes and numerous stolons. The name “Orostachys” is from the Greek words 'Oros', meaning "mountain" and 'stachys' meaning "spike" in reference to both of these plants' occurrence in mountainous regions and the shape of the inflorescence. The specific epithet "malacophyllus" is from the Greek words 'malakos' meaning "soft" and 'phyllon' meaning "leaf" in reference to the soft fleshy leaves of this plant. Our thanks go out to Annie's Annuals for this great little plant.
This information about Orostachys boehmeri displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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