Plant in full coastal sun or light shade with occasional summer watering. Cold hardy to 25-30° F and tolerates drought, lack of summer watering and coastal conditions. A good container plant Although there has not been a recorded incident of Cotyledon orbiculata being poisonous to humans there have been cases in California where sheep have died when fed Cotyledon orbiculata. In South Africa, the disease caused by eating these plants, called cotyledonosis, has poisoned sheep and goats but rarely other animals. The meat of animals killed by cotyledonosis also remains toxic.

The species Cotyledon orbiculata is widespread throughout South Africa where it is most often found on rocky outcrops within grasslands, the shrubby fynbos and semidesert regions. The reason for the name chosen for the genus is a complicated story. The plant, Wall Pennywort or Navelwort, (Umbilicus rupestris) was previously included in the genus. In medieval times and in homeopathic medicine this plant was commonly known as Cotyledon, so this name stuck with the genus, even though the plant it was named for did not. The name for the genus originated from the Greek word 'kotyledon' or 'kotyle' meaning "cupped", "hollowed" or "a cavity". The specific epithet is Latin meaning "round and flat" or "disk-shaped" in reference to the typical leaf shape of the species.

Cotyledon orbiculata 'Greytown Spoons' is a sister seedling of a plant we call Cotyledon orbiculata 'Big Wave'. Both plants were selected from a crop grown from seed given to us by Brian Kemble of the Ruth Bancroft Garden and originated from seed collected from a plant in cultivation near the town of Greytown in Natal, South Africa. The seedlings were quite variable, and we have selected several forms with this form selected for its unusual leaves that are narrower toward the base and expand somewhat like a scalloped spoon near the tip. We grew and sold this plant from 2007 until 2021. 

The information displayed on this page about Cotyledon orbiculata 'Greytown Spoons' is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.