Petal Leaf Succulent

The Petal Leaf succulent, also known as Portulaca Molokiniensis and ihi succulent, is a beautiful plant that adds color and life to any home. The Petal Leaf Succulent originated in an uninhabitable crescent-shaped inlet, Molokini Islands, between the islands of Maui and Kahoʻolawe.  

Being part of the cacti family, this exotic Petal Leaf Succulent thrives in hot sunny locations. It can tolerate the heat and needs six hours of direct sunlight daily. While it can thrive during hot temperatures, it doesn’t do well in freezing temperatures (25° Fahrenheit).  When planting this lovely in your garden or pot, ensure you cover it well during a hard freeze or, if possible, bring your plant inside during the cold. 

Petal Leaf – A Rare Beauty

The Petal Leaf Succulent is uniquely beautiful and very rare. In the United States, it is considered an endangered Species.   It grows in clumps making it shrub-like. Stems shoot up and can grow as tall as 12 to 18 inches. Surrounding the stems are green leaves that cluster together, looking like green roses lined up in rows. Its height alone is a wonderful backdrop to a rock garden or widow needing a dramatic talking point.  It flowers from spring to late summer! And when it does, you will have a succulent with yellow flowers and, sometimes, golden. The Petal Leaf Succulent is a unique and beautiful addition to any home or garden.

How to Plant your Petal Leaf Succulent

The Petal Leaf Succulent is versatile. It needs a sunny location and can be planted in a garden, outside pots, or as an inside plant.   If planting directly in a garden or a pot, make sure it has an area that drains well. – if using a pot, it should have a hole in the bottom for adequate drainage.

How The Petal Leaf Succulent Grows 

As with any plant, how it grows depends upon where you plant it. If you display it inside in a planter, your succulent won’t have any

 room to grow outward so that it will grow taller than wide.   If you choose to use a planter, either inside or outside, your Petal Leaf Succulent can be trimmed into a Bonsai Succulent, making it the perfect centerpiece on an outside patio! Plant it outside in coarse, well-drained soil, and it will propagate quickly without any help from you! In fact, if you’re not careful, it can take over your garden.   

Caring for your Petal Leaf Succulent

It’s unusual that something so beautiful can be so easy to take care of, but that is the case here.

• Water only when the soil is completely dry. Never when moist, or you will get root rot.
• If planting outside, cut it back so it doesn’t take over the garden
• Never Plant where your pets might take a bite. It is toxic to animals.