A small genus of three to five species (only two are recognized at present), all well worth growing for their sharp-bladed leaves and superb flowers. Those are usually a deep golden yellow, but several pastel shades are found, and some exceptional variants of I. excavata (I. “vanbredai”) have dark pink flowers with lilac grey pollen. Easily grown if given sufficient light, all ihlenfeldtias prefer mabel-mix. They are active in fall and winter, flowering in early spring.
Note: These species were formerly placed in Cheiridopsis. Ihlenfeldtia “vanbredai”, Cheiridopsis dilatata and C. albirosea = I. excavata, Cheiridopsis vanzylii = I. vanzylii. There are only the two species. Hartmann, Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants, 2001.
This plant is of South African origin. It lives in a very dry belt of desert which recieves all year round rain of about 100mm a year. Despite this, it is like its distant cousins Conophytum, geared up to winter growth.
It probably should have a summer rest period with no water. Athough you could experiment with this. The plant doesent form buds properly unless you water it well in the fall. Having said that never soak the pot unless you live in a hot area (like southern california) with reliable weather. Dont water more than once a week or the plant will become bloated and split. Plants from very arid reqions like Namaqualand and Namibia often dont have a 'water stop valve' in thier roots. They will just continue absorbing until they burst.
If you water it responsibly in the winter it will show you its buds by December. By late January it should be in flower.
The flowers are a wonderful fresh yellow. They get larger year after year as the plant matures.
Ihlenfeldtia is related to Chieridopsis. It grows well from seed.
