Lampranthus amoenus is a hardy and robust succulent shrub that gives an eye-catching display of bright pink flowers in spring to summer.This perennial plant forms a decent sized bush or shrub usually around 600 mm tall (but can be taller). Possessing several robust stems, it also portrays a well-branched habit. The somewhat cylindrical eaves are blue-green to pale turquoise with a soft and succulent feel.

Lampranthus amoenus is fast-growing and roots easily and quite rapidly from cuttings, forming a decent sized plant within a year or two depending on the size of the cutting used. It grows well and can live and flower for many years (well over 5 years).

Genus Lampranthus

Lampranthus is a genus of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa.

The genus name “Lampranthus” means “shining-flowers” in Greek, and the species of this genus have unusually large, bright flowers, of a range of colours (sometimes even bi-coloured), that usually appear in summer, and frequently cover the plants entirely.

The species of this genus typically have long, smooth, elongated, succulent leaves. These can be triangular or cylindrical, and like all plants in its family, appear in opposite pairs on the shrubs’ branches.[2]

Flowers and Seeds of Lampranthus amoenus

The most common time for Lampranthus amoenus to flower is between June and October with flowers light pink through to magenta and purple. The flowers usually open fully only in bright full-sun, failing which, they close up slightly.

They are pollinated by many insects, such as bees, wasps and beetles.

Lampranthus can be clearly distinguished from related genera by its seed capsules. The seed capsules of all of these genera have triangular valves, which open when they become wet, exposing the seed chambers (locules). In contrast to Ruschia, each valve in a Lampranthus capsule has two wings, on either side of it, but no visible closing body. Unlike in Delosperma, the seeds in Lampranthus seed chambers are partially covered by a covering membrane. Lampranthus seeds sometimes have visible stalks too.

Range of Lampranthus amoenus

These plants are mainly found in Southern Africa, especially in arid areas, such as the Fynbos habitats.

Good companion plants for Lampranthus amoenus

► Browse: Coleus neochilus (previously Plecanthrus neochilus)

► Browse: Pelargonium inquinans ‘red’ – scarlet geranium, wildemalva, ibhosisi

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This article uses material from the Wikipedia article “Lampranthus”, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.