Frithia pulchra Care Guide: The Fairy Elephant’s Feet You’ll Fall in Love With
Frithia pulchra Care Guide: The Fairy Elephant’s Feet You’ll Fall in Love With
Delicate, rare, and utterly charming, Frithia pulchra (a.k.a. Fairy Elephant's Feet) is a tiny stemless succulent native to Gauteng, South Africa. As a vulnerable species in the wild, it's become a prized treasure among succulent lovers worldwide. 🐘💖
🏷️ Botanical Highlights
- Family: Aizoaceae (Fig-marigold family)
- Genus: Frithia
- Height: ~10 cm tall, 20 cm wide
- Leaves: Chubby, semi-translucent oblong tubes with "leaf windows"
- Flowers: Bright magenta daisy-like blooms in summer
- Fun Fact: Can shrink into the soil to avoid drought, like a magic trick!
Named after Johannesburg gardener Frank Frith, pulchra literally means "beautiful" — and this tiny plant lives up to the name. 🌸
🪴 Growing Conditions & Care
🌍 Soil Mix
- Use a breathable blend of leaf mold + coarse sand + garden soil (1:1:1)
- Add vermiculite or crushed eggshells for better aeration
- Always use a pot with drainage holes to prevent rot
☀️ Light Requirements
- Spring & Fall: Full sun to get that crystal-glass leaf effect
- Summer: Partial shade with ventilation to avoid overheating
- Winter: Bright windowsill or supplemental grow light recommended
💧 Watering Wisdom
- Active Growth (Spring–Early Summer): Water deeply when soil is bone dry
- Dormancy (Summer & Winter): Total drought mode! Keep soil dry like a desert
💡 Watering Tip: Avoid splashing the leaf windows — standing water = root rot risk!
🌿 Fertilizing Schedule
- Apply diluted succulent fertilizer (1:2000 strength) 2–3 times per month during the short growing season
- Skip fertilizing in dormancy
⚠️ Deadly Don’ts
- No drainage holes? You're asking for trouble
- Below 10°C? It's a frost-sensitive baby — protect it
- Water on leaves? Bad idea — rot alert!
💡 Bonus Tip
Give it a sunny spa day in late spring! ☀️ The leaf windows may blush into dreamy pink-orange hues — totally IG-worthy.
🛒 Where to Buy Frithia pulchra?
Looking to add this rare beauty to your succulent family? Shop here