Adromischus mammillaris var. buffelspoort

Hailing from the winter-rainfall and transitional zones of the Karoo, this succulent drives its primary vegetative growth, root development, and leaf plumping during the cool, temperate months of autumn and spring. It slows its metabolism down significantly during the intense, baking heat of mid-summer, relying on its water-dense leaves to endure prolonged droughts before pushing up slender, simple flower spikes in late summer. In cultivation, the leaves are famously brittle (highly deciduous) and drop easily to strike new roots. The plant has zero tolerance for damp, compacted soil; it requires an aggressively sharp-draining, mineral substrate (such as 85% to 90% premium pumice and decomposed granite) and must be watered with a highly disciplined hand only when the medium is bone-dry, keeping it dry and well-ventilated during summer dormancy.