VITACEAE

This monster is native to several regions of Namibia and is a very popular plant among hobbyists. And rightly so, because this might even be one of my favorites. You'd hardly believe it, but this is a member of the grape family. They are succulent mini-trees that grow in the hottest, sunniest, driest, and most nutrient-poor locations. With their beautiful, thick trunks and flaking bark, this is a truly ornamental tree. Once established, this trunk develops very large, fleshy leaves with a waxy coating to prevent excess evaporation. They also flower readily with umbels of tiny flowers that sometimes become pollinated and form red grapes. Neither the fruit nor the other parts are edible, so definitely don't try this.

Full sun. Water during the growing season when the substrate is almost dry. Stop watering in the fall (around early October) and let the plant go dormant by allowing it to dry completely. Leaves will fall from the plant and then sprout again once spring arrives, at which point you can resume watering.