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Blueleaf Elephantfoot (Adenia glauca)

Adenia glauca is described as a deciduous woody climbing or trailing plant with a conspicuously swollen, fleshy base, although sources differ and some describe it as a deciduous shrub.

LightIt grows in full sun to bright partial sun; some sources recommend exposing the leaves to sunlight while shading the swollen stem base itself.
WaterWater can be increased during active growth, while after leaf drop or outside the growing season watering should be greatly reduced and conditions kept relatively dry; excess moisture while leafless can lead to rot. Duri
TemperatureSources are few and differ on the minimum temperature, placing it at about 7 °C. Adenia glauca is frost tender and should be kept above freezing; it drops its leaves and goes dormant. Cold is reported to trigger dormancy
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Blueleaf Elephantfoot illustration

Overview

Adenia glauca is described as a deciduous woody climbing or trailing plant with a conspicuously swollen, fleshy base, although sources differ and some describe it as a deciduous shrub.

Origin and habitat

Adenia glauca is native to southern Africa, with northern South Africa and southeastern Botswana explicitly recorded within its range; other accounts describe the range more broadly as South Africa, Botswana, or southern Africa. It commonly grows in rocky terrain, among rocks, or on north-facing slopes, with the swollen stem base sometimes partly wedged into rock crevices and exposed at the surface. Its native environment has summer rainfall and a dry winter dormancy, and the swollen stem base stores water for dry conditions.

Characteristics

Plants reach 50–350 cm in height and have a swollen stem; the swollen base can become large and the trailing stems can become long. The stalked leaves are gray-green to glaucous blue-green and are often palmate or deeply lobed; leaves near the stem base are larger than those toward branch tips and may be shed after the growing season. Sources differ in descriptions of the small, inconspicuous flowers, including creamy white, yellow-green, and lemon yellow; male and female flowers occur on separate plants, and flowering is described as beginning in spring. Female plants are reported to be able to form orange fruit after flowering.

Light

It grows in full sun to bright partial sun; some sources recommend exposing the leaves to sunlight while shading the swollen stem base itself.

Watering

Water can be increased during active growth, while after leaf drop or outside the growing season watering should be greatly reduced and conditions kept relatively dry; excess moisture while leafless can lead to rot. During summer, watering at intervals of 7–14 days is described, while the plant should be watered sparingly while leafless.

Temperature and dormancy

Sources are few and differ on the minimum temperature, placing it at about 7 °C. Adenia glauca is frost tender and should be kept above freezing; it drops its leaves and goes dormant. Cold is reported to trigger dormancy, and a single source places the cold minimum at about 7 °C.

Growing medium and mounting

It grows in a somewhat acidic, gritty, well-drained medium and is reported to need a fast-draining mix.

Propagation

Adenia glauca can be propagated by seed or cuttings; plants from cuttings generally do not readily form the typical swollen base, so seed is more suitable for plants grown for that feature. Cuttings can be used for plants intended for seed production because they flower more readily.

Common problems

Excess watering during dormancy or while leafless can lead to rot, and the swollen base and fleshy root system particularly require a well-drained medium. The plant is sensitive to frost and low temperatures and should be protected from freezing; some horticultural sources recommend maintaining a minimum temperature, but their numerical recommendation is not stated here.

Identification

The main stem near ground level is conspicuously swollen into a large, fleshy, caudex-like structure with smooth, dark green or waxy green skin and a shape ranging from melon-like to an irregular sphere. Slender trailing branches emerge from the swollen base and bear blue-gray-green leaves.

Photos

Adenia glauca
📷 JMK · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Sources