Cotyledon Tomentosa
Cotyledon tomentosa
📖 About this plant
Cotyledon tomentosa, commonly known as Bear’s Paw, is a charming succulent that features thick, fuzzy, wedge-shaped leaves with distinctive reddish tooth-like projections along the top edges, perfectly mimicking the appearance of chubby little bear paws. The soft, velvety leaf texture and compact, shrub-like growth habit make it irresistibly touchable and a favorite among succulent enthusiasts. In spring and summer, it produces clusters of bell-shaped orange-red flowers on tall stalks that attract pollinators. The combination of fuzzy texture, playful shape, and colorful blooms makes it one of the most photogenic succulents available.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright Indirect Light to Full Morning Sun
When soil is completely dry (every 2-3 weeks)
30-50%
15-27°C (60-80°F)
Well-draining succulent/cactus mix with perlite and coarse sand
Diluted succulent fertilizer 2-3 times during growing season
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- South Africa (Eastern Cape)
- 📏 Max height
- 20-30 cm (8-12 in) tall
- 📐 Spread
- 15-25 cm (6-10 in) wide
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring to summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Bell-shaped orange to red flowers on tall stalks
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Fuzzy green to grey-green leaves with reddish tooth-like margins resembling bear paws
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial (5-10+ years)
- 📈 Growth rate
- Slow to Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Toxic to cats, dogs, and livestock — contains bufadienolides causing cardiac issues if ingested
- 🌱 Propagation
- Leaf cuttings or stem cuttings; allow callus 2-3 days before planting
🛡️ Health & Safety
Toxic to cats, dogs, and livestock — contains bufadienolides causing cardiac issues if ingested
Common issues
- Leaves dropping off from overwatering, mealybugs in the fuzzy leaf texture, etiolation in low light, losing the 'teeth' in insufficient light, root rot in heavy soil, powdery mildew in humid conditions
💡 Care tips
- The velvety coating on leaves helps conserve moisture — avoid getting water on the leaves when watering. Bright light with some direct morning sun brings out the best red coloration on the 'claws'. The leaves will elongate and lose their characteristic shape in low light. This plant goes partially dormant in summer — reduce watering during hot months. Propagate from fallen leaves — they root easily.
