Duvalia corderoyi (Rietpoort)

🌵 Duvalia corderoyi (Rietpoort) Care

Duvalia corderoyi (Rietpoort) is a locality form of Duvalia corderoyi, a South African, clump-forming stapeliad. Rietpoort identifies the plant’s collection locality rather than a separate botanical subspecies or variety.

It produces short, thick, fleshy stems that grow close to the ground and gradually form a spreading mat. The stems are usually dark green but can develop reddish colouring in stronger sunlight or cooler conditions.

Its unusual flowers are relatively large for the genus, reaching approximately 3–5 cm across. They are typically reddish-brown, brick-red or purplish, with distinctive long, purple, hair-like structures around the flower’s centre and petal margins.

🌱 Growing & Care

☀️ Light

• Prefers bright light with partial sunlight.

• Gentle morning sun is ideal.

• Provide light shade during the hottest part of the day.

• Gradually acclimatise plants to stronger sunlight.

• Good light encourages compact growth and flowering.

💧 Watering

• Water moderately during active growth.

• Allow the growing medium to dry between waterings.

• It can appreciate additional moisture during warm growing periods, provided drainage is excellent.

• Reduce watering during cooler months.

• Avoid keeping the plant wet in cold weather, as this increases the risk of stem and root rot.

🪴 Soil

• Requires a loose, gritty and well-draining growing medium.

• Use a cactus and succulent mix amended with pumice, perlite or coarse grit.

• Its relatively shallow roots make shallow, wide containers suitable.

• Terracotta pots are useful because they allow the growing medium to dry more quickly.

🌡️ Temperature

• Prefers warm growing conditions.

• Protect from frost and prolonged cold.

• Avoid exposing wet plants to low temperatures.

• Good air circulation helps prevent fungal problems.

🌸 Flowering

• Produces distinctive, fleshy, star-shaped flowers.

• Flowers can reach approximately 5 cm in diameter.

• Colour varies from brick-red and reddish-brown to dark purple or greenish-brown.

• The centre and petal margins feature unusual purple, hair-like structures.

• Flowering generally occurs during late summer and autumn.

• Flowers may produce a carrion-like smell to attract fly and beetle pollinators.

🌿 Feeding

• Feed lightly with a diluted succulent fertiliser during active growth.

• Choose a potassium-rich, low-nitrogen fertiliser.

• Avoid excessive feeding, which can encourage soft growth.

🌱 Propagation

• Easily propagated from stem cuttings.

• Allow cut surfaces to dry before planting.

• Lay the stems on top of a gritty growing medium rather than burying them.

• Keep warm and allow roots to develop before increasing watering.

• Can also be grown from seed.

🌵 Boho Blooms Growing Tip

Duvalia corderoyi naturally grows beneath small shrubs in flat, stony areas, often among dolerite rocks. Recreate these conditions by providing bright light, some protection from intense afternoon sun and excellent drainage. A shallow, wide container gives the stems plenty of room to spread and form a beautiful clump.

Interesting botanical fact: Duvalia corderoyi is a variable species, with different forms and flower colour variations occurring across its natural distribution. The Rietpoort locality name is useful for keeping track of the origin of individual plants in a collection.

Plants on offer: ±3 stems 3-5cm rooted. Shipped without pot or soil. May or may not currently have flowers/buds.

Have a look at our care sheet to find out how you can care for your stapeliads!