Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Othonna crassifolia

Description:

An interesting and beautiful succulent variety producing short, swollen, blue-green pickle shaped foliage that reaches upward; pretty yellow flowers from spring to fall; a perfect color accent in rock gardens, containers, or massed as groundcover

Ornamental Features

Little Pickles's attractive small succulent narrow leaves remain bluish-green in color with hints of grayish green throughout the year on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. It features dainty yellow daisy flowers held atop the stems from mid spring to mid fall, which emerge from distinctive violet flower buds.

Landscape Attributes

Little Pickles is an herbaceous annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Little Pickles is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting
• Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

Little Pickles will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity extending to 6 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.

Little Pickles is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.