About Adromischus alstonii (Schönland & Baker fil.) C.A.Sm.
Adromischus alstonii is an upright terrestrial succulent bush that grows up to 30 cm tall. Its branches range from decumbent to erect, and have grey, grey-green, or brown-green peeling bark; mature branches can reach up to 1.4 cm in diameter. This species has grey leaves that sometimes bear purplish spots or splotches; leaves can grow to 8 cm long and 4.3 cm wide. Leaves are narrow at the base, with a flat upper surface; the lower surface is usually flat but may be convex. Its inflorescences grow up to 52 cm high and hold sparsely arranged flowers. The flowers have tubular green-brown sepals, topped with white or faintly pink triangular petals. A. alstonii blooms in mid-summer. It grows on rock outcrops and lower slopes, ranging from South West Africa to north-western Cape Province, with populations occurring from Richtersveld and Namaqualand to Garies. It prefers growing in sheltered spots, either under bushes or in rock crevices. Thanks to its succulent leaves, A. alstonii can survive long periods of drought, and its leaves wrinkle when the plant needs water. It requires a free-draining, gritty soil mix. It needs ample sunlight for the characteristic purple leaf spots to develop. When kept dry, it can tolerate temperatures as low as 5°C. Like other Adromischus species, A. alstonii roots easily from leaf cuttings for propagation.
