Orostachys malacophylla var. boehmeri ("Komochirenge")

Japanese name: コモチレンゲ （子持蓮華）
Scientific name: Orostachys malacophylla var. boehmeri

[Overview]
A perennial 3–6 cm tall with rosettes about 3 cm across, found on sunny seaside rocks and on roofs.
It grows in clumps, and often sends out runners from the lower part of the flower stalk or from the leaf axils of the rosette, bearing offsets at their tips.
The whole plant is powdery and looks whitish green.
The leaves are simple, alternate and fleshy; the rosette leaves are obovate to oblanceolate, 1–3 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm wide, with no needle-like projection at the tip.
From the center of the rosette rises a tower-shaped flower stalk 3–6 cm tall, bearing a conical inflorescence.
The inflorescence has bracts.
The flowers are white, 5-petaled, and open in a star shape.
There are 10 stamens, and the anthers are usually crimson.
The fruit is a follicle.
The plant dies after fruiting, but increases by producing offsets.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by division.
It prefers a sunny site with well-drained sandy soil.
Potted plants should be kept in a well-ventilated place out of the rain during long rainy spells.
For potted plants, in spring and autumn water thoroughly a few days after the soil has dried; water sparingly in midsummer and withhold water in winter.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Poor ventilation or excess moisture can cause root rot and gray mold.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary.
Offsets form, but if the parent plant flowers, they may flower together with it and die, so if you wish to increase the plants, separate them from the parent early.
Pests and diseases include gray mold and scale insects.

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