Lotus maculatus
Care, watering, light and tips for Lotus maculatus on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Fabaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 14 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 5–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Lotus maculatus
Lotus maculatus, commonly known as Pico de El Sauzal, is a sprawling perennial shrub endemic to the Canary Islands. It is characterized by its unique, intense reddish-orange flowers, resembling a bird's beak, and its silvery-green foliage. This plant is perfect for rock gardens, ground cover, or as a trailing plant in pots, adding an exotic and striking touch.
Native range
Canary Islands, Spain
Care tips
It requires full sun for abundant flowering and optimal development, though it tolerates light partial shade. Watering should be moderate, allowing the substrate to dry completely between waterings, as it is sensitive to overwatering and waterlogging. It prefers well-drained, sandy, or rocky soils. Avoid excessive fertilization, which can stimulate vegetative growth at the expense of flowering.
How to save a dying Lotus maculatus
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or whitish leaves, weak and wilting stems. Poor flowering or bud drop.
- First aid
- Move it to a spot with bright indirect light, water only when the substrate is dry. Avoid waterlogging.
- What kills it
- Overwatering that rots the roots, or lack of light that weakens it. Does not tolerate extreme cold.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act quickly. Good drainage and adequate light are key for its recovery.