Cistanche phelypaea

Cultivation Details

Cistanche phelypea is a plant of arid climates where the mean annual rainfall can be less than 100mm^[1]. Requires a sunny position, preferring a well-drained sandy-loamy soil. The plant is mainly found in large wadi beds in the wild and can tolerate moderate amounts of salt in the soil^[1]. A full parasite, the plant is totally dependant upon its host for food and does not produce its own chlorophyll^[2]. The plant is dormant in dry weather, appearring only after rain with flowering occurring soon afterwards. This can happen at any time of year in the high mountains of the central Sahara, in other parts of the plant's range it is more usually seasonal (Spring in northern Africa)^[1]