African native "living stones" first capture attention with their hilarious name. Later they fascinate with their blooming beauty and uniqueness.
Argyroderma testiculare is a small, perennial succulent that originated from the northwest of South Africa. It belongs to a large Aizoaceae family, well-known as stone plants and carpet weeds.
It is a single pair of leaves, although it can branch and form short columns. The leaves are half-ovoid, length 25—35 mm, width 15—25 mm, the gap at the apex 4—10 mm. The color of the leaves is dark green; eventually, they get yellow and later black with age.
The flowers can be pink, white, or yellow, but a deep purple hue with a yellow center is the most common. The petals are long and slim. Blooming in habitat starts mostly in August (in nature, it begins during winter rains in the southern hemisphere).
