Aloinopsis spathulata x Nananthus transvaalensis

Aloinopsis spathulata x Nananthus transvaalensis is a bigeneric hybrid with both species endemic to South Africa. Nananthus transvaalensis has since been renamed as Nananthus vittatus so technically this should now be called Aloinopsis spathulata x Nananthus vittatus. Like Aloinopsis spathulata it has pinkish flowers and yellow anthers but the inner corolla of the petals is pale whitish-yellow which it appears to borrow from its Nananthus vittatus parent.

Like both its parents, this hybrid has fleshy foliage with warty idioblasts covering this leaf surface. It also borrows from both parents the thick tuberous taproots that can be slowly and patiently encouraged to grow into an attractive caudex by gradually uncovering it year by year, lowering the soil level to leave more of the roots exposed.

Aloinopsis spathulata x Nananthus transvaalensis is remarkably cold-tolerant and will survive several dergrees of frost if it has a dry free-draining substrate in winter. However, its unique characteristics are best appreciated up close and most growers will want to house it indoors in an attractive terra cotta container and keep it in a well-lit position although it is perfectly happy in a cool greenhouse - ideally with a layer of fleece for when the temperature plummets.