Care of Caudiciform

 

Caudiciform, Caudex, Tuberous plants are all names for a group of succulents that have either a swollen stem... tuber , or overgrown upper or lower root parts. Caudiciform means Caudex-like and Caudex means stem.

All the Caudiciforms we sell on Caudiciform.com are Caudex plants that can be grown as potted plants, almost always as indoor potted plants - houseplants. Pachycaul means thick stem, which is a term for those succulents that have an actual stem.

Caudex plants can be more or less easy to grow as pot and houseplants, so we have compiled a number of guides to help our customers with advice and tips for cultivation. Our list of caudex and tuberous plants is by no means complete, but we are constantly adding new ones.

In the top table you can navigate to care instructions for a single plant through the family name. In the table below you can go directly to the individual plant species.

Your family	Genus (genus)
Aizoaceae	Delosperma - Mestoklema - Trichodiadema
Anacardiaceae	Lannea - Operculicarya - Pachycormus
Apocynaceae	Adenium - Baseonema - Fockea - Pachypodium - Petopentia
Araliaceae	Cussonia
Asclepiadaceae	Brachystelma - Ceropegia - Matelea - Raphionacme
Asteraceae	Othonna - Senecio
Balsamiaceae	Impatiens
Begoniaceae	Begonia
Bombacaceae	Bombax/Pseudobombax (previous)
Burseraceae	Beiselia - Boswellia - Bursera - Commiphora
Cactaceae	Tephrocactus
Campanulaceae	Brighamia
Convolvulaceae	Ipomoea
Crassulaceae	Crassula - Echeveria - Tylecodon
Cucurbitaceae	Bryonia - Cephalopentandra - Coccinia - Corallocarpus - Cucumis - Cyclantheropsis - Dendrosicyos - Gerrardanthus - Ibervillea - Kedrostis - Marah - Momordica - Neoalsomitra - Trochomeriopsis - Xerosicyos - Zehneria - Zygosicyos
Didieraeceae	Alluaudia
Dioscoreaceae	Dioscorea
Euphorbiaceae	Euphorbia - Jatropha - Monadenium - Phyllanthus
Fabaceae	Delonix - Elephantorhiza - Entada - Tylosema - Senna
Fouquieriaceae	Fouquieria
Geraniaceae	Sarcocaulon (Monsonia) - Pelargonium
Gesneriaceae	Sinningia
Hyacinthaceae	Bowiea - Schizobasis
Icacenaceae	Pyrenacantha
Lamiaceae	Aelloanthus - Plectranthus
Malvaceae	Adansonia (Baobab) - Bombax/Pseudobombax - Brachychiton - Firmiana - Rhodognophalon
Menispermaceae	Stephania - Tinospora
Moraceae	Dorstenia - Ficus
Moringaceae	Moringa
Nyctaginaceae	Mirabilis
Oxalidaceae	Oxalis
Passifloraceae	Adenia
Pedaliaceae	Pterodiscus - Sesamothamnus - Uncarina
Phyllanthaceae	Phyllanthus
Piperaceae	Peperomia
Portulacaceae	Avonia - Ceraria
Rubiaceae	Hydnophytum - Hymenodictyon
Talinaceae	Talinum
Vitaceae	Cyphostemma, Cissus

Like many other succulents, many Caudiciform plants originate from Africa, many of them again from South Africa and Madagascar, but also from other parts of the world.

Although some of the caudexes and their foliage may look quite similar, they have very different requirements for their environment in terms of temperature, light, water and soil. From the tropical caudiciforms like Stephania and some Jatropha, to the subtropical and even temperate species of caudex plants like the Pelargoniums that originate from the caudex homeland of northwest South Africa where frost can occur.

On this page we provide instructions on how to care for the tuberous plants we sell on caudiciform.com. If you need further care instructions, you can click on the individual species by clicking on the name.

Search the web for information about your caudex plants yourself - a big help is where the plants originate from. At the bottom of the page, we've included links to great online resources with lots of information about caudex plants, other succulents and their natural habitats.

Plant	Light	Water summer	Water winter	Hibernation	Soil	Habitat
Adansonia Digitata (Baobab)	max	myx	-	winter	mixed	Southern Africa
Adansonia Grandidieri (Baobab)	max	Medium	-	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Adansonia Gregorii (Baobab)	max	max	-	winter	gravel	Madagascar
Adansonia Madagascariensis (Baobab)	max	max	-	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Adansonia Perrieri (Baobab)	max	max	-	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Adansonia Rubrostipa (Fony Baobab)	max	Medium	-	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Adansonia Suarezensis (Baobab)	max	Medium	-	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Adansonia Za (Baobab)	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Adenia Ballyi	max	Medium	-	winter	mixed	Somalia
Adenia Caldosepala	max	Medium	-	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Adenia Digitata
Adenia Ecirrosa
Adenia Ellenbeckii	Medium	max	-	winter	mixed	East Africa
Adenia Epigea
Adenia Fruticosa
Adenia Glauca	Medium	max	min	-	spagnum	Southern Africa
Adenia Globosa	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	East Africa
Adenia Gummifera	Medium	max	-	winter	mixed	East Africa
Adenia Heterophylla
Adenia Isaloensis
Adenia keramanthus
Adenia Kirkii	max	max	-	winter	mixed	Kenya, Tanzania
Adenia Metamorpha
Adenia Pechuelii
Adenia Perrieri	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Adenia Racemosa
Adenia Spinosa	max	max	min	-	mixed	South Africa
Adenia Stylosa	Medium	Medium	-	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Adenia Venenata	max	Medium	min	winter	mixed	East Africa
Adenia Viridiflora	Medium	Medium	-	winter	mixed	Thailand
Adenium Arabicum	max	Medium	min	-	mixed	Southern Arabia
Adenium Boehmianum
Adenium Dhofarense
Adenium Multiflorum
Adenium Obesum	myx	Medium	min	-	mixed	Southern Arabia and Africa
Adenium Oleifolium
Adenium Socotranum	max	min	min	spring	mixed	Socotra
Adenium Somalense	max	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Eastern Africa
Aeollanthus buchnerianus	Medium	max	Medium	-	spagnum	South-Eastern Africa
Alluaudia Procera	max	min	-	winter	gravel	South-west Madagascar
Avonia Albissima var. Grisea	max	min	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Avonia Papyraceae	Max	Medium	min	winter	mixed	South Africa
Avonia Quinaria	max	-	min	summer	gravel	South Africa
Baseonema Gregorii	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	East Africa
Begonia Carolineifolia	Medium	max	max	-	spagnum	South Central America
Begonia Dregei
Begonia Homonyma	Medium	max	Medium	-	spagnum	South Africa
Beiselia Mexicana						Mexico City
Bombax Ellipticum	max	min	max	winter	mixed	Between America
Bombax Rhodognophalon	Medium	max	min	-	spagnum	Kenya, Tanzania
Boswellia Nana
Boswellia Neglecta	myx	min	min	-	mixed	South and East Africa
Boswellia Sacra
Bowiea Volubilis	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	spagnum	South and East Africa
Brachychiton Rupestris	Medium	Medium	min	-	mixed	Australia
Brachystelma Plocamoides
Brighamia Insignis	Medium	myx	myx	-	spagum	Hawaii
Bryonia Dioica	Medium	max	max	winter	clay/sphagnum	Europe
Bursera Fagaroides	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Mexico City
Bursera Graveolens
Bursera Hindsiana	max	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Mexico City
Bursera Microphylla
Bursera Paradoxa	max	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Mexico City
Cephalopentandra Ecirrhosa	Medium	max	Medium	winter	mixed	Eastern Africa
Ceraria Namaquensis	myx	min	min	-	gravel	South Africa
Ceraria Pygmaea	max	min	-	winter	gravel	South Africa
Ceropegia Fusca	max	Medium	min	-	lava	Canary Islands
Cissus Duparquetii	min	Medium	Medium	winter	mixed	Kenya
Cissus Tuberosa	Medium	max	min	winter	mixed	Mexico City
Coccinia Mildbraedii	Medium	Medium	-	winter	mixed	East Africa
Coccinia Palmata	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	South Africa
Coccinia Quiquilobata
Coccinia rehmanii
Coccinia trilobata
Commiphora Brevicalyx
Commiphora Foliaceae
Commiphora Holtziana	max	Medium	min	-	gravel	Eastern Africa
Commiphora Kua	myx	Medium	-	winter	mixed	Eastern Africa
Commiphora Monstruosa	Medium	Medium	-	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Commiphora Oblongifolia	Medium	Medium	min	-	mixed	?
Commiphora Quercifoliola
Commiphora Unilobata
Commiphora Wightii
Corralocarpus Boehmii	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	gravel	Eastern Africa
corralocarpus Perrieri
Corallocarpus Tenuissimus						?
Crassula Ovata	max	Medium	-	-	gravel/mixed	South Africa
Cussonia Natalensis
Cussonia Paniculata	max	Medium	min	-	mixed	South Africa
Cussonia transvaalensis	max	Medium	min	-	mixed	South Africa
Cyclantheropsis Parviflora	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Southern Africa
Cyphostemma Adenocaule	max	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Tropical Africa
Cyphostemma Betiforme
Cyphostemma Cirrhozum	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Southern Africa
Cyphostemma Currori
Cyphostemma Elephantopus	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Cyphostemma Hardyi
Cyphostemma Humile
Cyphostemma Jiguu
Cyphostemma Juttae	myx	Medium	-	winter	mixed	South Africa
Cyphostemma Lanigerum	Medium	Medium	min	?	mixed	South Africa
Cyphostemma Laza	Medium	Medium	-	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Cyphostemma Macrocarpum
Cyphostemma Mappia
Cyphostemma Montagnacii	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Cyphostemma Ngare Mare
Cyphostemma Oleraceum
Cyphostemma Orondo
Cyphostemma Pachypus	max	max	-	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Cyphostemma Roseiglandulosum	max	max	-	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Cyphostemma Rutilans	Medium	Medium	-	winter	mineral	Madagascar
cyphostemma sakalavensis	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Cyphostemma Sandersonii
Cyphostemma Seitzianum
Cyphostemma Simulans
Cyphostemma Uter
Delonix Decaryi
Delonix Pumila	max	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Delosperma Bosseranum	max	min	min	-	gravel	Madagascar
Dendrosicyos Socotranus	max	max	min	winter	gravel	Socotra - Yemen
Dioscorea Bulbifera	Medium	Medium	-	winter	spagnum	Africa, Asia, Australia
Dioscorea Elephantipes	Medium	Medium	Medium	vary	mixed	South Africa
Dioscorea Glauca						Brazil, Brazil
Dioscorea Hemicrypta						South Africa
Dioscorea Japonica/Nipponica						China, Japan
Dioscorea Mexicana	Medium	max	min	winter	mixed	Central America
Dioscorea Pentaphylla						South Asia
Dioscorea Sylvatica						South Africa
Dorstenia Drakena						South America
Dorstenia Foetida						East Africa
Dorstenia Gigas						Socotra, Yemen
Dorstenia Gypsophila						Somalia
Dorstenia Hildebrandtii	Medium	max	max	-	mixed	Eastern Africa
Dorstenia Horwoodii						Somalia
Dorstenia Socotrana						Socotra, Yemen
Dorstenia Zanzibarica						Kenya
Echeveria Coccinea						Mexico City
Elephantorhiza Elephantina	max	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Southern Africa
Entada Leptostachya	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar, Eastern Africa
Euphorbia Balsamifera	max	min	max	summer	mixed	Canary Islands
Euphorbia Brunellii	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Eastern Africa
Euphorbia Bupleurifolia	max	Medium	-	winter	gravel	South Africa
Euphorbia Decidua	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	gravel	Eastern Africa
Euphorbia Ecklonii	max	min	-	summer	mixed	South Africa
Euphorbia Flanaganii	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	South Africa
Euphorbia Globosa	myx	Medium	-	winter	gravel	South Africa
Euphorbia Hedyotoides	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Madagascar
Euphorbia Inermis	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	South Africa
Euphorbia Knuthii	max	max	-	winter	gravel	South Africa, Mozambique
Euphorbia Pachypodioides	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Madagascar
Euphorbia Poisonii	Medium	Medium	-	winter	gravel	Western Africa
Euphorbia Stellata	myx	Medium	-	winter	mixed	South Africa
Euphorbia Stenoclada	max	Medium	-	winter	gravel	Madagascar
Ficus Arnottiana	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	clay mixture	South India, Thailan
Ficus Petiolaris	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	blade	Mexico City
Firmiana Colorata	Medium	max	min	winter	mixed	South Asia
Fockea Capensis
Fockea Comaru	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	South Africa
Fockea Edulis	Medium	Medium	min	-	gravel	South Africa
Fockea Multiflora	max	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Southern Africa
Fouquieria Columnaris
Fouquieria Diguetii
Fouquieria Fasciculata
Fouquieria Leonilae Miranda	max	Medium	min	-	mixed	California
Fouquieria Splendens
Gerrardanthus Longobaya
Gerrardanthus Macrorhizus	Medium	myx	max	-	spagnum	South Africa
Hydnophytum Papuanum	Medium	max	max	-	bark	Southeast Asia
Hymenodictyon Parviflorum	Medium	max	Medium	-	sand	Central Africa
Ibervillea Lindheimeri	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Mexico City
Ibervillea Sonorae	Medium	Medium	min	winter	gravel	Mexico City
Ibervillea Tenuisecta	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Mexico City
Impatiens Opinata
Ipomoea Batatas	Medium	max	-	winter	spagnum	Mexico City
Ipomoea Bolusiana	max	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	South and East Africa
Ipomoea Bullata	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	East Africa
Ipomoea Heterophylla
Ipomoea Platense	Medium	max	min	winter	mixed	Paraguay
Ipomoea Pubescens
Jatropha Cathartica	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Mexico City
Jatropha Podagrica	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	spagnum	Central America
Jatropha Spicata	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Southern Africa
Kedrostis Africana	Medium	myx	-	winter	mixed	South Africa
Kedrostis Foetidissima
Kedrostis Yew	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	East Africa
Kedrostis heterophylla	Medium	max	min	winter	mixed	East Africa
Kedrostis Hirtella	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	South and East Africa
Kedrostis Leloja	max	Medium	min	winter	mixed	South and East Africa
Kedrostis Mildbraedii
Kedrostis Nana	max	Medium	min	winter	mixed	South Africa
Kedrostis Punctulata
Marah Fabacea	max	Medium	min	winter	mixed	California
Marah Gilensis
Matelea Cyclophylla
Mestoklema Tuberosum	max	Medium	-	winter	mixed	South Africa
Mirabilis Jalapa	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Central America
Momordica Boivinii	myx	Medium	Medium	-	gravel	Central and Southern Africa
Momordica Rostrata	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	East Africa
Momordica Sessilifolia
Monadenium Invenustrum	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Kenya
Monadenium Magnificum	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Tanzania
Monadenium Ritchiei	myx	Medium	-	winter	mixed	Eastern Africa
Monadenium Rubellum	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Kenya
Monsonia Crassicaule	myx	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Monsonia Flavescens						South Africa
Monsonia Herrei						South Africa
Monsonia Inermis						South Africa
Monsonia Lavrani						South Africa
Monsonia Marlothii						South Africa
Monsonia Multifidum	myx	-	Medium	summer	mixed	South Africa
Monsonia Patersonii	max	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Monsonia Peniculina						South Africa
Monsonia Salmoniflora						South Africa
Monsonia Vanderietiae	myx	-	Medium	summer	mixed	South Africa
Moringa Aborea						Kenya
Moringa Borziana						East Africa
Moringa Drouhardii	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Moringa Hildebrandtii	max	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Madagascar
Moringa Longituba						East Africa
Moringa Oleifera	max	max	Medium	winter	spagnum	India
Moringa Ovalifolia	max	min	min	winter	gravel	Namibia
Moringa Pygmaea						Somalia
Moringa Rivae	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Eastern Africa
Moringa Stenopetala	max	max	Medium	winter	mixed	Ethiopia
Neoalsomitra Sarcophylla	max	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Southeast Asia
Obetia ficifolia						Meeting
Operculicarya Borealis	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Operculicarya Decaryi	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Madagascar
Operculicarya Hirsutissima						Madagascar
Operculicarya Hyphaenoides						Madagascar
Operculicarya Pachypus	max	max	min	-	gravel	Madagascar
Othonna Clavifolia	Medium	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Othonna Cacalioides	Medium	Medium	min	summer	gravel	South Africa
Othonna Cremnophila	Medium	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Othonna Euphorbioides	max	-	min	summer	gravel	South Africa
Othonna Filicaulis	max			summer	gravel	South Africa
Othonna Herrei	Medium	-	min	summer	gravel	South Africa
Othonna Lobata	Medium	-	min	summer	gravel	South Africa
Othonna Pachypoda	Medium	min	min	summer	gravel	South Africa
Othonna retrofracta
Othonna Retrorsa	max			summer	mixed	South Africa
Othonna Triplinervia	max	-	min	summer	gravel	South Africa
Oxalis Tuberosa
Pachycormus Discolor	max	Medium	Medium	summer	lava	California
Pachypodium Baronii	max	max	-	winter	mixed/gravel	Madagascar
Pachypodium Brevicaule	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Bispinosum	myx	Medium	Medium	winter	mineral	South Africa
Pachypodium Cactipes	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Densiflorum	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Eburneum	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Enigmaticum	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Geayi	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Gracilius	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Horombense	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Inopinatum	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Lamerei	myx	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Mikea	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Rosulatum	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Rutenbergianum	Max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Rosulatum ssp. Gracilius	max	Medium	min	winter	mineral	Madagascar
Pachypodium Saundersii	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mineral	South Africa
Pachypodium Succulentum	Medium	Medium	Medium	winter	mineral	South Africa
Pelargonium Alternans	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Appendiculatum	myx	-	Medium	summer	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Aridum	Medium	min	-	summer	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Auritum	Medium	-	Medium	summer	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Campestre	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Carnosum	medium	-	Medium	summer	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Carolii-Henrichi
Pelargonium Cotyledonis	myx	Medium	min	-	mixed	St. St. Helena
Pelargonium Crassicaule	max	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Pelargonium Crithmifolium	myx	-	Medium	summer	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Dasyphyllum	myx	-	Medium	summer	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Echinatum	myx	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Pelargonium Gibbosum	max	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Klinghardtense	myx	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Pelargonium Laxum	Medium	Medium	min	?	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Lobatum	Medium	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Pelargonium Mirabile	myx	-	Medium	-	sand	South Africa
Pelargonium Polycephalum	max	-	Medium	summer	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Quinquelobatum	Medium	Medium	min	-	mixed	Eastern Africa
Pelargonium Schizopetalum	max	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Sidoides	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	South Africa
Pelargonium Transvaalense	Medium	myx	min	winter	spagnum	South Africa
Pelargonium Triste	Medium	-	Medium	summer	sand	South Africa
Peperomia Macrorhiza
Petopentia Natalensis	Medium	Medium	-	winter	spagnum	South Africa
Petopentia Undulata
phyllanthus Mirabilis	Medium	max	max	-	spagnum	Thailand
Plectranthus Ecklonii
Plectranthus Ernstii	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	spagnum	South Africa
Plectranthus Parviflorus
Plectranthus Zatarhendii	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	South Africa
Pseudobombax Ellipticum	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Between America
Pseudobombax Palmeri
Pseudobombax Rhodognophalum
Pterodiscus Brasisliensis
Pterodiscus Makatiniensis	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	South Africa
Pyrenacantha Kaurabassana	Medium	max	-	winter	mixed	South Africa
Pyrenacantha Malvifolia	max	max	Medium	-	spagnum	Central Africa
Raphionacme Burkei	max	Medium	-	winter	mixed	South Africa
Raphionacme Flanaganii
Raphionacme Procumbens	Medium	Medium	-	winter	mixed	South Africa
Sarcocaulon Camdeboensis	max	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Sarcocaulon Crassicaule	myx	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Sarcocaulon Herrei	max	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Sarcocaulon Multifidum	myx	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Sarcocaulon Patersonii	myx	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Sarcocaulon Salmoniflora	max	-	min	summer	gravel	South Africa
Sarcocaulon Vanderietae	myx	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Schizobasis Intricata	Medium	Medium	-	winter	mixed	South and East Africa
Senecio Pendulus	max	-	Medium	summer	mixed	East Africa
Senna Meridionalis	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Senna Sp. Nova	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Sesamnothamnus Rivae	myx	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	East Africa
Sinningia Bulbosa						Brazil, Brazil
Sinningia Speciosa						Brazil, Brazil
Stephania Epigaea						China
Stephania Erecta	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	spagnum	Thailand, Vietnam
Stephania Glabra	Medium	Medium	min	winter	spagnum	South Asia
Stephania Japonica						Southeast Asia
Stephania Kaweesakii						Thailand
Stephania Rotunda	Medium	Medium	min	winter	spagnum	Tibet to Vietnam
Stephania Suberosa	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Thailand
Stephania Tuberosa	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	Australia
Talinum Caffrum	Medium	max	min	winter	mixed	Africa
Talinum Paniculatum						America
Tephrocactus Geometricus	max	Medium	-	winter	gravel	South America
Tinospora Caffra	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	East Africa
Trichodiadema Bulbosum	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	mixed	South Africa
Trichodiadema Densum						South Africa
Trochomeriopsis Diversifolia	max	max	min	winter	mixed, sand	Madagascar
Tylecodon Buchholzianus	max	-	Medium	summer	mixed	South Africa
Tylecodon Grandiflora	max	-	Medium	summer	mixed	South Africa
Tylecodon Paniculatus	max	-	Medium	summer	mixed	South Africa
Tylecodon Reticulatus	max	-	Medium	summer	gravel	South Africa
Tylecodon Wallichii	max	-	Medium	summer	blade	South Africa
Tylosema Fassoglensis	Medium	Medium	Medium	-	gravel	Southern Africa
Uncarina Abbreviata	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Uncarina Ankaranensis	Medium	Medium	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Uncarina Decaryi	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Uncarina Grandidieri	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Uncarina Ihlenfeldtiana						Madagascar
Uncarina Leandrii						Madagascar
Uncarina Leptocarpa	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Uncarina Peltata	Medium	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Uncarina Perrieri	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Uncarina Roeoesliana	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Uncarina Sakalava
Uncarina Stellulifera	max	max	min	winter	mixed	Madagascar
Xerosicyos Pubecens	Medium	Medium	min	winter	spagnum	Madagascar
Xerosicyos Triparticus	Medium	Medium	min	winter	spagnum	Madagascar
Zehneria Scabra	Medium	Medium	Medium		mixed	Sub-Saharan Africa

 

Climate control 

Worldweatheronline is a good source of average weather in specific locations around the world. It can be difficult to keep 35° (Celcius) on a windowsill in Denmark for long periods. You don't have to, but heat and water need to be adjusted. Roughly speaking, lower temperatures require less water. Many caudiciforms react strongly to heat differences, and some species in particular require a high temperature before they even set leaves, for example Boswellia Neglecta.

 

Water

In many of the areas where caudiciform plants grow, it rains a lot, but in less time than in a temperate climate like Denmark. To mimic natural rainfall, it can therefore be an advantage to water the caudex plants fully when watering and then let the plants dry out before the next watering, during the periods when it rains in the tubers' natural habitat. This can be done by dipping the entire pot into a tub of water for half a minute before taking it out again. Remember that the vast majority of succulents and caudiciforms that die on windowsills die from overwatering. It is far less dangerous to water a succulent too little than too much. Some caudex plants grow in nature in places where there is almost never water around the roots, try to mimic this when you plant your caudexes.

If you water your tuberous plants from above, avoid water on the caudex itself.

Remember that most caudiciforms can easily survive the winter without water, especially if stored in a semi-cool and dark place.

The water used for irrigation greatly affects the PH value of the soil. Remember that lime is alkaline and not many plants prefer an alkaline environment. Most caudiciforms can easily cope with tap water in Denmark - but some, such as Pachypodiums, prefer a more acidic medium and can therefore be watered with rainwater or demineralized water.

 

Soil

Mixed soil is the most common for caudiciforms and succulents. Mixed soil should consist of mostly inorganic and nutrient-free material - rock, gravel, lava, sand. It is not so important exactly what type of rock material is used, but the final mix should consist of at least 70% of it for good drainage. The last 20-30% organic material should be free of large plant parts such as peat and sphagnum clumps. Soil for succulents and caudiciform plants should generally have a pH value of 6-7, but there are plenty of exceptions. Lime is alkaline and therefore raises the pH value, so rainwater is often preferable. We typically sell Pumice and other types of lava such as zeolite, vulcaponic, red lava and common cactus soil. We sometimes also have akadama (clay) and caudex soil mixes. Gravel, sand, silt and sphagnum are not sold as they are readily available types of plant soil that can be bought in most DIY stores in Denmark.

Zeolite is a very common material in nature that is used for a lot of technical purposes, such as purifying water. It also has some benefits for plants in the way it releases minerals. The most important property for the average houseplant enthusiast is that zeolite holds water better than pumice and releases some of it when heated. In fact, zeolite means "boiling stone" because it was discovered that it releases water when heated. This is a nice property in a warm windowsill, or in a greenhouse in the summer, but it's not necessarily a good property for all caudiciforms in colder periods.

 

pots

Which pot a caudex plant and other succulents are grown in can have a surprisingly large impact on how the plant grows and what chance of survival your potted plants have. You can see our selection of Pots here. All Pots for sale at Caudiciform.com have a hard interior and large drainage holes, which are the two most important criteria for a good succulent pot. Depth and width are of course about taste - but also about the root of the individual caudiciform. In nature, many caudiciforms grow with the caudex (tuber) underground - which of course requires a deep pot. Many caudiciforms and other succulents, on the other hand, have an extremely small root system - and thus require a very small pot in relation to the size of the plant - for example Pachypodium and Sarcocaulon species. All our Pots are made of ceramic (clay pots) and a large part of them are Danish ceramics. 

 

Fertilizer

Caudiciform plants need to be nourished during watering periods. Use a liquid fertilizer with a low nitrogen content (e.g. 4%), about once a month during watering periods, and stop fertilizing a month before dormancy periods. Some of the South African caudiciforms are self-fertilizing - they can draw nutrients from the air and therefore do not need to be fertilized via water.

 

Hibernation

Many caudiciform succulents hibernate in nature during periods of drought - both summer and winter. This doesn't mean that they have to go dormant as houseplants or just potted plants, but that they can do so. If you water your caudiciforms all year round, they will probably keep their foliage. If they do shed their leaves, stop watering them until they sprout again, otherwise they may rot. Hibernation can last many months at a time, so even if a caudiciform like Dioscorea has been dormant for six months, it can still be alive - and even longer than that.

 

Risk of extinction

Some Caudiciforme plants are in danger of extinction in the wild. On Redlist you can look up plants from South Africa. At Caudiciform.com we only sell plants grown in Europe.

 

Caudiciform plants

Bihrmann and Llifle are goldmines of knowledge about Caudex plants, and contain some of the most comprehensive overviews of all Caudex plants, as well as many pictures. On PlantZAfrica you will find great knowledge about both individual South African plants and the different types of growing areas in the country. There are endless groups and pages on Facebook that deal with Caudiciforms in different ways.

 

Literature

There is not much literature focusing on caudiciforms. One exception is: Caudiciform and pachycaul succulents" by Gordon D. Rowley from 1987. It's hilariously expensive to buy and still hard to get hold of.

The excellent "Succulent and xerophytic plants of Madagascar" volumes 1 & 2 from 1995 by German botany professor Werner Rauh is of course not exclusively about caudiciforms either, but a goldmine of knowledge and habitat photos. It is also very expensive to buy - but worth every penny!

 

In 2021, the two Danes Bjarne Kjempff and Finn Larsen published the small book "Fede planter" on their own publishing house. It is a fine book that contains many caudiciform plants, but with a predominance of cacti. 

The book has many photos from both habitat and culture, and can be purchased directly from the publisher for a low price.

There are a number of books available on Namaqualand/Richterveld - also specifically about plant life there. They are generally not easy to get hold of, but do your research.  

"Wild flowers of Namaqualand" is a fine reference work on plants from north-western South Africa and south-western Namibia. The book was written by Annelise le Roux and first published by the South African Botanical Society in 1981, and republished in a fourth edition in 2015. The book is not very expensive and can still be obtained from new.

If you are particularly interested in succulent geraniums, "Pelargoniums of Southern Africa" is a must. The work consists of 3 books Vol. I-III. The book is written by J.J.A. van der Walt and illustrated by Ellaphine Ward-Hilhorst. The illustrations are small works of art in themselves - but unfortunately there are no photos in the book, so the plants cannot be seen in habitat in the books. Vol. I was first published back in 1977. The books were reissued in 1979 - but possibly not since and are therefore very expensive.

Llifle in particular is quite good at listing species-specific literature under the individual plant - often scientific literature.

Llifle also has the great advantage that they write a lot about care conditions, a feature that is often missing in most plant books, making them of little practical use. 

Caudiciform/succulent Pelargonium

 

Pelargonium.si is a good reference for Pelargoniums. It is especially good if you are interested in the taxonomy of Pelargoniums and need to look up which section each species belongs to. The site contains not only the succulent and caudiciform Pelargoniums, but all species. Some of the species have their own subpages with good photos of them, as well as very accurate distribution maps. https://www.geraniaceae-group.org/ is a great source of knowledge about the Geraniaceae family - not just the Pelargonium genus. Use of the site requires membership, which costs a small annual fee.

 

Seeds and seed germination

At Caudiciform.com we do not sell seeds of Caudiciforms, but grow some plants from seed ourselves. Since we don't sell them, we don't generally write instructions on how to germinate the individual species from seed. There is great variation in the media required, heat and water requirements etc. for each species' seed germination. The simplest advice is to germinate in pumice - the seeds will rarely get rot and fungus, keep them moist during germination and use a heating mat to keep the germination environment around 25 degrees. Many of the South African species need to germinate at room temperature - eg. Dioscorea Elephantipes