Synonyms:

Albuca aperta
Albuca pruinosa
Coilonox concordianum
Ornithogalum apertum
Ornithogalum concordianum

Habitat:

Albuca concordiana is native to an area extended between southern Namibia, until the north-western Cape to Karoo and the south-eastern cape in South Africa. It grows on stony flats in xerophyllous scrubs in hot, arid climates, with winter rainfall.

Description:

Albuca concordiana is a small, perennial plant, reaching a maximum height of 20 centimeters. It tends to offset to form clumps. Its most striking feature are the coiled, corkscrew-shaped leaves, up to 7 centimeters long and 4 millimeters wide, bluish-grey, flat, glabrous and furrowed by fine longitudinal channels. The coiled leaves look like curly hair and make A. concordiana very sought after among succulent lovers. The bulb is tiny and almost perfectly spherical, with tunics that get papery near the neck. When the plant is in bloom, the leaves wither: the inflorescence appears in August and the blooming period lasts until late September. The inflorescence is a raceme (the botanical term to refer to a cluster) of scented flowers, with six yellow petals, adorned by a longitudinal, green stripe.

Cultivation:

Albuca concordiana is not difficult to grow. Put it in a bright spot, exposed to direct sunlight all year round except from the hottest hours in Summer days. In Winter, it can be kept outside, as it’s very resistant to cold: it will survive at temperatures down to -7ºC. Water sparingly during the growth season and suspend irrigation in Winter, as cold, dry conditions will enhance the coiling of the leaves. When the plant starts blossoming, reduce the frequency of irrigation in order to avoid root rotting. In extremely dry conditions, the plant will enter dormancy. Regarding the substrate, use a mix for succulent or add some gravel into a standard growing medium. It doesn’t need frequent fertilization, it is sufficient to dilute the fertilizer with watering once a year.

Propagation:

Propagation can be carried out through division of the bulbs or sowing. It’s not difficult for the seeds to germinate: sow them in Autumn or Winter in a mix of moist peat and perlite and place the pot in a bright spot but not exposed to direct sunlight.

Curiosity:

The species name “Concordiana” refers to Concordia, a place in South Africa where the species was discovered.

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www.giromagi.com

Italian Blog:
www.giromagicactus.com

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