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Cotyledon orbiculata 'Big Wave' (Wide Pig's Ear) - A succulent shrub to 2 to 3 feet tall with 5 to 6 inch long by 4- to 5-inch-wide gray leaves with a slightly undulating dark maroon margin. Orange bell-shaped flowers dangle from flower stalks that rise above the foliage in the summer.
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.
Cotyledon orbiculata 'Big Wave' is a sister seedling of a plant we call Cotyledon orbiculata Greytown Spoons'. Both plants are selections we made from plants grown from seed given to us by Brian Kemble of the Ruth Bancroft Garden that originated 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. 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 reason for this name 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/is 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.
We grew this plant from 2014 to 2021.
The information displayed on this page about Cotyledon orbiculata 'Big Wave' is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.
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