# Baboon's Bottom / Silver Living Rock (Argyroderma delaetii)

> Endemic to the quartz gravel plains of the Knersvlakte in South Africa, Argyroderma delaetii consists of a single pair of smooth, rounded, silver-grey to bluish fleshy leaves parted by a central fissure. Mimicking the pale quartz stones among which it naturally grows, it exhibits magnificent crypsis until autumn, when vibrant daisy-like flowers emerge in shades of magenta, purple, yellow, or white. Highly adapted to arid environments, it is exceptionally prone to splitting if overwatered.

- **Scientific Name:** *Argyroderma delaetii*
- **Botanical Family:** Aizoaceae
- **Care Difficulty:** Expert (4/5)
- **Cold Hardiness:** -2°C (USDA Zone 9b); must be protected from hard frost and kept cool and completely dry during cold periods.
- **Pet Safety / Toxicity:** Pet-Safe (Non-toxic to cats and dogs)
- **Canonical URL:** https://sukulentler.com/en/species/argyroderma-delaetii
- **Markdown Source:** https://sukulentler.com/en/species/argyroderma-delaetii.md
- **Botanical Photo:** https://sukulentler.com/assets/images/articles/species_argyroderma_delaetii.webp?v=1794150062

## Light & Sun Exposure

Requires full sun to very bright direct sunlight for at least 5-6 hours daily; insufficient light causes unnatural elongation and loss of the silvery coloration.

## Watering Schedule & Method

Never water while the old leaf pair is still absorbing; water sparingly using a soak-and-dry approach only during active autumn growth, and keep strictly dry during winter dormancy.

## Soil & Gritty Mix Formula

70% inorganic grit/quartz gravel/pumice + 30% cactus compost; extremely fast-draining and mineral-heavy substrate.

## Cold Tolerance & Overwintering

-2°C (USDA Zone 9b); must be protected from hard frost and kept cool and completely dry during cold periods.

## Propagation Methods

Propagation primarily by seeds sown in spring on fine mineral mix, or very occasionally by careful division of multi-headed clusters.

## Available Language Editions

- [TR: Gümüş Taş Sukulenti (Argyroderma delaetii)](https://sukulentler.com/tr/turler/argyroderma-delaetii.md)
- [DE: Silberstein / Lebender Stein (Argyroderma delaetii)](https://sukulentler.com/de/arten/argyroderma-delaetii.md)
- [ES: Piedra Plateada Viva (Argyroderma delaetii)](https://sukulentler.com/es/especies/argyroderma-delaetii.md)