- Home
- Cold-Hardy
- Orostachys
- Orostachys japonica
Orostachys japonica
Sunny location is ideal for the plant.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. Do not water in winter.
Frost-resistant succulent, reportedly tolerates temperatures as low as -34.4 °C.
Rosettes significantly reduce in size over the winter and "sprout" again in the spring.
Orostachys japonica is a rock garden succulent native to Japan, but it is also found in Korea, China, and Russia. It grows mainly on rocky slopes in low mountains and along stream banks. The plant is sometimes nicknamed Rock Pine, and the epithet japonica means “from Japan” or “related to Japan,” referring to its primary origin.
It forms dense rosettes of grey-green to pale whitish-green leaves, often with reddish tones. The leaves are narrowly spoon-shaped and end in a small terminal spine. The monocarpic rosettes remain very small in winter, reaching about 2 cm in diameter, while in summer they can expand up to around 8 cm.
The flowers are small and white, appearing on an upright flowering stalk that may grow up to about 30 cm tall. After flowering, the mother rosette dies, which is typical for this genus.
Orostachys japonica grows best in a sunny to lightly shaded position with well-draining soil. During winter the rosettes retract and stay much smaller, so a sheltered location is recommended. This species is a valuable choice for growers looking for a compact rock plant with distinctive rosettes and strong seasonal changes.