Pachypodium succulentum

Pachypodium succulentum, commonly the dikvoet (thick foot) in Afrikaans, is a slow-growing stem succulent growing from a large tuber. The tuber is partly underground and may reach 25 cm in diameter. The plant itself may grow to 2,5 m although this probably happens rarely, being commonly described as a shrublet.

P. succulentum is quite variable in appearance and has been described in the past under names including P. griquense (a small form of it) and P. jasminiflorum (a white flowering variety); all of which are now regarded as belonging to the same species.

The dikvoet occurs in the Western Cape in the Great Karoo, the Little Karoo and dry inland parts of the Eastern Cape.

The habitat is stony grassland and scrubveld on rocky ridges in loamy soils. The species is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century.

P. succulentum can be grown from seed or cuttings. It should be watered in summer (given where it comes from) and positioned in full sun or semi-shade. It may rot if over-watered (Smith, et al, 2017; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; iNaturalist; www.cactus-art.biz; http://redlist.sanbi.org).