Adromischus cooperi
# Adromischus cooperi

Adromischus cooperi is a species of succulent plant from the family Crassulaceae. The genus name Adromischus comes from ancient Greek adros (meaning "thick") and mischos ( meaning "stem"), and the species name from Thomas Cooper. The plant is endemic to the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

## Description

Adromischus cooperi (syn. Cotyledon cooperi) is a small perennial plant, growing to around 10 cm high. It is almost acaulescent with a compact appearance. The leaves are very fleshy and narrow at the base, with distinctive wavy ends. Given strong sun, the leaves show brown or reddish blotches.

It is a slow-growing species that becomes slightly tree-like with age; over several years it develops one or more rather thick, succulent, trunks. The flowers of A. cooperi are insignificant, small in size, and held on an upright stem.

## Cultivation

This is an easy plant to grow, but it needs bright sunlight to bring out the dark-colored ornamental spots on the leaves. It survives dry conditions, which cause shrinkage of the leaves, although they re-inflate when the plant is watered. During winter it should be placed in a dry, bright position with a temperature of around 12 °C; it can, however, tolerate a temperature slightly below freezing (to around –2 °C). It needs heavy watering in summer.

Adromischus cooperi can be reproduced easily from cuttings of the leaves taken during the non-flowering period.

