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Baboon Toes (Curio radicans)

Curio radicans is an evergreen, perennial succulent with creeping to trailing stems that can form carpet-like cover or hang from containers.

LightSources describe light needs differently: Curio radicans favors bright light or part shade, with bright indirect or filtered light indoors, while full sun may be acceptable in milder conditions but strong full sun should
WaterCurio radicans is drought tolerant; keep the growing medium well drained, water after the soil has clearly dried, avoid overwatering, and reduce watering further in winter.
HumidityIt is reported to prefer low humidity and generally needs good airflow.
TemperatureSources differ around a reported minimum temperature of about 0 °C, while a specialist source reports a cold minimum of about -5 °C; sources are few for these figures. Hardiness-zone descriptions vary between sources, an
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Baboon Toes illustration

Overview

Curio radicans is an evergreen, perennial succulent with creeping to trailing stems that can form carpet-like cover or hang from containers.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ in describing its native range in southern Africa, with records including South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho, while another account summarizes its distribution as the Cape region of South Africa. In its native habitat it commonly occurs in dry sandy or rocky settings, in shallow soil at the bases of rocks, and as carpet-like colonies around the bases of trees, among drought-tolerant low shrubs and other succulents. It is adapted to dry, hot environments with limited water and is drought tolerant but not frost tolerant.

Characteristics

Few sources report a mature height of about 50–100 cm and a mature spread of about 10–50 cm. It grows rapidly and can be vigorous under favorable conditions. The alternate, thick, fleshy, glossy leaves are green to blue-gray-green, curved like bananas, and have translucent windows or markings; the plant stores water in its leaves. The inflorescences contain many small, inconspicuous white to cream-white flowers with a cinnamon-like scent and no ray florets; sources differ on flowering, while the fruit is reported to be a ribbed achene with a pappus.

Light

Sources describe light needs differently: Curio radicans favors bright light or part shade, with bright indirect or filtered light indoors, while full sun may be acceptable in milder conditions but strong full sun should be avoided during hot weather.

Watering

Curio radicans is drought tolerant; keep the growing medium well drained, water after the soil has clearly dried, avoid overwatering, and reduce watering further in winter.

Humidity and airflow

It is reported to prefer low humidity and generally needs good airflow.

Temperature and dormancy

Sources differ around a reported minimum temperature of about 0 °C, while a specialist source reports a cold minimum of about -5 °C; sources are few for these figures. Hardiness-zone descriptions vary between sources, and the plant is frost tender; keep above freezing. It does not favor hot weather, needs cool air and ample airflow, and does not tolerate full sun well at high temperatures.

Growing medium and mounting

A well-drained, coarse, sandy, or cactus-and-succulent growing medium is suitable; loam and sandy soils are also listed, with acidic, neutral, or alkaline conditions considered suitable. It needs a fast-draining mix and is reported to have low rot risk.

Feeding

Fertilizer may be applied during active growth; recommendations include diluted balanced liquid fertilizer or a cactus-and-succulent liquid fertilizer relatively high in potassium and phosphorus and low in nitrogen.

Propagation

Curio radicans can be propagated by stem cuttings, seed, or division; stem cuttings are described as a faster, commonly used method, with cut stem sections placed directly to root.

Common problems

Possible pests include aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, and greenhouse whiteflies. Overwatering can lead to root or stem rot, while browning or reddening leaves may be associated with sunburn and insufficient light can cause elongated growth. It does not tolerate frost or below-freezing temperatures; although it can tolerate heat and drought, high temperatures combined with strong full sun may cause damage.

Identification

Distinctive features include strings of curved, banana-shaped succulent leaves with translucent leaf windows and slender creeping or trailing stems that can root along their length.

Photos

Curio radicans
📷 SAplants · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Curio radicans
📷 SAplants · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Curio radicans
📷 Nicola van Berkel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded · CC BY-SA · source

Sources