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Cotyledon orbiculata 'White Platter' (Platter Pig's Ear) - A succulent shrub to 1-2 feet tall that grows with thick stems laying flat to the ground terminating in slightly upturned 6 to 8 inch long by 5 to 6 inch wide powdery gray white leaves. Orange bell-shaped flowers dangle from flower stalks that rise above the foliage in the summer.
Best in full coastal sun or light shade in a well-draining soil with occasional summer watering. Hardy to 25-30 degrees Tolerates coastal conditions and drought. A good container or groundcover plant.
This form of Cotyledon orbiculata is one often called Cotyledon orbiculata var. orbiculata and it lies flatter than others we grow and has the largest and whitest leaves of any Cotyledon that we grow. We list Cotyledon orbiculata as a poisonous plant and, though 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 reason for the name of the genus is a complicated story. The plant, Wall Pennywort or Navelwort, (Umbilicus rupestris) was previously included in the genus and 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 now is in a different genus. This name 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 grow many other Cotyledon orbiculata cultivars, including the large upright Cotyledon orbiculata 'Winter Red' that has greener leaves and flowers in winter and Cotyledon orbiculata 'Silver Dollars' which is similar in color to 'White Platter' but more upright and with slightly smaller leaves.
The information about Cotyledon orbiculata 'White Platter' that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.
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