Titanopsis calcarea

My own personal Titanopsis calcarea has turned out to be an amazing plant, it is very low maintenance and has a distinct and interesting appearance, making it a personal favorite of mine as well as others I know. Actually one of my science professors was mildly obsessed with this species. Titanopsis calcarea is considered a mimicry plant because it has a texture and coloration that makes it appear to blend in with it’s surroundings, which is usually the major draw of this plant for people, myself included. I like to keep my Titanopsis calcarea with other ‘mesembs’ or mimicry plants like Fenestraria rhopalophylla or even it’s more distant relative Ruschia uncinata, because I enjoy the contrast of the smooth textures and the blue-green coloration of both of those plants with the warty and rough brown-orange leaves of Titanopsis calcarea. 

General Info

Titanopsis calcarea is a slow growing and mat forming rosette with short leaves that are either green or blue grey at the base and have warty brown tips. This warty texture helps them blend in with the rocky soil they inhabit. Also when they grow in the wild the leaves grow in more compact rosettes and the amount of green on the leaf is reduced. This is because when they are kept as houseplants they are exposed to more nutrients than in the wild even if they aren’t fertilized, which isn’t a good idea for this species.

I would also caution not to over water this one because it can easily succumb to root rot if left sitting in wet soil that does not drain quickly enough. But in exchange this plant can tolerate bright full sunlight and even lots of heat and look fine. If grown in too little light this plant’s leaves will get longer and turn more green which in this case is undesirable and less attractive. Titanopsis calcarea also can handle below freezing temperatures, although I personally wouldn’t risk damage to the tissue of the leaves because of how slow this one grows. Coincidentally that is also why Titanopsis calcarea is a PERFECT potted plant because it is small, very slow growing, interesting to look at up close, and tough enough to handle the more dramatic changes in moisture that comes with being kept potted. I would VERY HIGHLY recommend keeping Titanopsis calcarea especially as a potted plant to both beginners who had a tendency to underwater and experts alike because this is a highly rewarding and interesting plant.

Characteristics

Native to: South Africa and Namibia

Height: 2-4 inches max

Spread: <1 foot max

Hardiness: to 25°F+

Light Requirements: Partial to Full Sun

Water Requirements: Low (Light for succulents)

Flowers: Large and bright yellow colored flowers in summer-early winter

Other: Drought friendly, sun loving, mimicry plant, ideal potted plant

Species Classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Clade: Core Eudicots

Order: Caryophyllales

Family: Aizoaceae

Genus: Titanopsis

Species: T. calcarea