Kleinia barbertonica 'Himalaya'

Origin of Kleinia barbertonica 'Himalaya'

The name 'Himalaya' is used in horticulture for this green-leaved form of Kleinia barbertonica. The species comes from southern Africa, including South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It grows in dry sandy ground and rocky places, including sand forest where plants are often partly sheltered.

Indoor care for Kleinia barbertonica 'Himalaya'

• Light: Give full sun or strong direct light, increasing exposure gradually after a move.
• Temperature: Keep temperatures around 18–24 °C. Protect the plant from prolonged temperatures below 5 °C. Frost-free conditions are best.
• Humidity and airflow: Normal indoor humidity is fine; aim for 40–50%. Allow air to circulate around the stems so surface moisture can dry after watering.
• Water: While the plant is growing, water thoroughly and let the mix dry well before watering again. As growth slows in cooler conditions, keep the mix much drier.
• Potting mix: Use a gritty succulent mix that drains quickly.
• Feeding: For ‘Himalaya’, use a dilute cactus or succulent fertiliser during active growth, then pause feeding when the plant is resting.
• Repotting: Move to a larger pot when roots fill the current one. Renew a compacted mix and reserve a larger pot for cases where the roots also need additional room.
• Propagation: Take a healthy stem cutting, let the cut end dry, then place it in a gritty mix that drains quickly.
• Pruning: Light trimming keeps the shrub compact and encourages branching.

Stem and Leaf Problems in Kleinia barbertonica 'Himalaya'

• Stem base turns soft or dark: Too much moisture can cause rot at the base. Stop watering and use a clean disinfected tool to cut away the rot until only firm healthy tissue remains. Discard the damaged parts and replant healthy sections in fresh gritty mix.
• Leaves wrinkle while the mix is fully dry: The plant may be too dry. Soak the pot thoroughly and let it drain completely.
• New stems become long and thin: New stems grow long and thin when the position is too dim. Shift the plant into stronger light and shorten stretched stems when needed.
• Lower leaves shed after a long dry period: Lower leaves may drop if the plant stays dry for too long. When the mix is dry, water thoroughly and let the pot drain. Let the mix dry well before watering again.

Kleinia barbertonica ‘Himalaya’ is toxic to cats and dogs

• Keep this plant away from cats and dogs that may chew it.
• It may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can damage the liver after enough plant material is swallowed.
• Possible signs include vomiting, weakness or delayed liver problems. Contact a veterinarian promptly after suspected ingestion.

When was Kleinia barbertonica first published, and what does it mean?

Kleinia honours the German naturalist Jacob Theodor Klein. Barbertonica refers to Barberton in present-day Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Philip Miller established the genus Kleinia in 1754 in The Gardeners Dictionary Abridged, fourth edition.

Friedrich Wilhelm Klatt first described it as Senecio barbertonicus in 1896 in Bulletin de l’Herbier Boissier, volume 4, page 840. Joseph Burtt Davy later placed it in Kleinia as Kleinia barbertonica in 1935 in Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Kew, volume 1935, page 569.