Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Pleiospilos bolusii

Mimicry Plant · Stone Quaggafig

Family AizoaceaeGenus Pleiospilos

A pair of thick gray-green succulent leaves flecked with dark dots, opening like a beak from coarse red and white grit.
The whole plantHectonichusCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, Houseplant, SucculentExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
succulent perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
1-3 in2.5-7.5 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-6 in5-15 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/Yellow, OrangeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Hardiness zones
9-11Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Worth knowing

  • The mimicry plant's thick, angular leaves look like a pile of split pebbles, possibly to deter animals that would eat it. Bolusii honors the 19th-century South African botanist Harry Bolus. Wikipedia: Pleiospilos bolusii

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 56 days to germinate.

85% germination in 14–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Pleiospilos p. 67Public domain
Show the original text
Pleiospilos (Aizoaceae). P. bolusii germ. 70L(85% in 2-8 w), 40-70L(80% in 4-6 w), and none in 70D, 70 GA-3, 40-70D, or OS. When the sample in OS was shifted to 70L after 9 w, 85% germ. in the 3rd w. Pleuros permum (Apiaceae).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Pleiospilos p. 67. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 24, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 42 days.

80% germination in 28–42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Pleiospilos p. 67Public domain
Show the original text
Pleiospilos (Aizoaceae). P. bolusii germ. 70L(85% in 2-8 w), 40-70L(80% in 4-6 w), and none in 70D, 70 GA-3, 40-70D, or OS. When the sample in OS was shifted to 70L after 9 w, 85% germ. in the 3rd w. Pleuros permum (Apiaceae).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Pleiospilos p. 67. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Pleiospilos p. 67Public domain
Show the original text
Pleiospilos (Aizoaceae). P. bolusii germ. 70L(85% in 2-8 w), 40-70L(80% in 4-6 w), and none in 70D, 70 GA-3, 40-70D, or OS. When the sample in OS was shifted to 70L after 9 w, 85% germ. in the 3rd w. Pleuros permum (Apiaceae).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Pleiospilos p. 67. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page