This bulbous succulent follows a summer-rainfall cycle but is highly opportunistic. It is most active from late spring through autumn, during which it produces its characteristic mottled, silver-and-violet foliage and spikes of small, bell-shaped green and purple flowers. In the wild, it can enter a brief dormancy during the dry winter months, sometimes shedding leaves if moisture is completely unavailable. However, in cultivation, it often remains evergreen if kept in a frost-free environment with occasional light water. It is significantly more moisture-tolerant than the cacti and Euphorbias previously discussed but still requires a gritty, free-draining substrate to prevent the bulbs from rotting. It is particularly sensitive to being "buried" too deep; the bulbs should sit primarily above the soil line.