Lifesaver Plant (Huernia zebrina)

spaceman_spiff Saint Petersburg, FL(Zone 9b) Aug 14, 2005

Lifesaver Plant
Huernia zebrina

Close-up of bloom of Huernia zebrina (Life Saver plant). Photo taken 01 Aug 2005, St. Pete, Florida. Zone 9b.

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CaptMicha Brookeville, MD(Zone 7a) Jun 14, 2007

This looks unreal! Like a fake rubber or plastic flower.

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spaceman_spiff Saint Petersburg, FL(Zone 9b) Jun 20, 2007

Hi, CaptMicha.

Yes, the flowers are very unusual & cool!

Thanks for the note.
John

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boojum Shelburne Falls, MA(Zone 5a) Jun 20, 2007

Any trick to get them to bloom? I have several huernias.

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CaptMicha Brookeville, MD(Zone 7a) Jun 20, 2007

Does any one have any to spare for a trade? Don't mean to beg but wow...

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spaceman_spiff Saint Petersburg, FL(Zone 9b) Jun 28, 2007

Hi, boojum & CaptMicha.

boojum: Mine just bloomed on its own. I didn't really do anything but sit it on the side of my house under a tree after a friend gave it to me. (Since she had it growing successfully while sitting under a tree at her house, I figured I should do the same thing).

CaptMicha: Sorry, I don't have any extras. The one single plant I have has died back somewhat this past winter and there is not much left. Seems to be holding on right now, and I'm hoping it will come back more over the summer.

Interestingly, someone saw one of the plant's photographs I posted here on DG last year and wrote to me and asked if they could use the photo in a children's book they were writing about "stinky" plants and animals. I consented and I now have my first photo credit in a published book! LOL. (The book is "Pee-Yew!" by Mike Artell and can be found on Amazon).

So, I'm hoping to keep the plant alive, now that it's "famous" and has its photograph in a book!

Take care,
John