The Tylecodon schaeferianus, affectionately known as the "Fairy Tale Plant," is a miniature succulent that looks like it belongs in a fantasy forest. It is a "caudiciform" or pachycaul plant, meaning it develops a thick, swollen, and gnarled base (caudex) with peeling, papery bark. From this ancient-looking trunk, tiny, egg-shaped green leaves emerge, giving it the appearance of a microscopic, weathered tree.
This rare gem hails from the arid, rocky regions of Namibia and the Namaqualand in South Africa. It is a desert specialist, having evolved to store water in its woody trunk to survive the harsh, dry winters of its native habitat.
The flowering stage of the Fairy Tale Plant adds to its mystique. It produces small, tubular, trumpet-shaped flowers that are usually a pale pink or creamy white with delicate maroon or purple stripes. These blooms appear on thin stalks and provide a soft, elegant contrast to the rugged, "crusty" appearance of the trunk.
Bright Indirect Light. It loves light but can be sensitive to intense, direct afternoon sun which may scorch its tiny leaves.
Extremely Gritty/Inorganic. Use a mix of pumice, lava rock, and coarse sand. It requires maximum drainage to protect the caudex.
Careful & Seasonal. This is a winter grower. Water more regularly in autumn/winter when leaves are present, and keep nearly bone-dry in summer dormancy.
10 to 11. Almost exclusively grown as an indoor specialty plant in temperate regions.
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We ship all year round, if your area is cold (under 40 degree), please consider purchasing a Heat Pack to add to your order.
* Minimalist Pot Options: White/ Oatmeal/ Gray colors are randomly picked
* Grower pot option is plastic pot, the color of the plastic pot will be random (brown, black, white or green)
* We use 3.5-inch wide clay pots for our 4-inch succulent plant + clay pot option, and 3-inch modern pots for the 4-inch succulent plant + modern pot option.
Your plant will be carefully wrapped in a sturdy box. Most of the succulents will be shipped bare-root to ensure their safety. If you want to receive the plastic pot & soil, please leave a note in your order. When opening your package, some soil may be loose in the box. Plant orders are shipped within 3-5 days depending on the availability of the plant. We ship our plants Monday through Friday, all twelve months of the year! If you need your order urgently, please message us so we can upgrade your shipping (additional cost applied). We do not ship outside of the continental United States.
We ship all year round, if your area is cold (under 40 degree), please consider purchasing a Heat Pack to add to your order.
Our packaging materials are: - 100% recyclable and biodegradable cardboard boxes. - 100% biodegradable packing peanuts made from natural and non-toxic sources.
Here is our blog about the shipping process and packaging: https://succulentsbox.com/pages/shipping-return-policy
*** The size options are represtentative of pots that the plants come in. Sometimes customer may receive multiple plants instead of a large one to make up size.
*** All of our packages are sterilized before leaving the door.
We take great pride in shipping only healthy, beautiful plants to our customers! To ensure they arrive in the best condition, please track your package and open it immediately upon arrival. If you have any concerns, our dedicated customer support team is here to help—just message us right away! Fragile varieties like bearpaw and baby toe may lose a few leaves or experience minor breakage during transit, but we are happy to assist if your plant is severely damaged. Our goal is to make sure you receive plants you love, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you. Additionally, plant sizes may vary slightly depending on availability or the time of year, but rest assured, each one is carefully grown and selected.Your satisfaction is our priority, and we’re always here to help make your plant journey a great one!
Green Thumb Guarantee
Worried about plant care? We’ve got you covered! If your plant care goes haywire within 6 months of your order, you can claim a $15 gift card for your plant. How it works:
For each plant, you can receive a gift card.
All gift cards issued by Succulents Box will expire one (1) year from the date of creation.
The more plants you order, the more you can claim, up to a maximum of $50 gift card per order.
One-time claim per order.
For subscriptions, you can claim once per subscription.
Provide porous soil with adequate drainage, pots with drainage hole are recommended. Bright, filtered
light and ample airflow. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch. Never let your succulents sit in water. Do
NOT water on the leaves. If you water from beneath by letting the plant sit in a saucer of water, make sure to pour
off any excess water after a few minutes.
The hotter it is outside, the faster your soil will dry out, so you’ll need to water more often if you live in a hot
area. Water with caution in winter, as the plant can lose its roots if the soil stays cold and wet for extended
periods; protect from frost to prevent scarring.
The flowering stage of the Fairy Tale Plant adds to its mystique. It produces small, tubular, trumpet-shaped flowers that are usually a pale pink or creamy white with delicate maroon or purple stripes. These blooms appear on thin stalks and provide a soft, elegant contrast to the rugged, "crusty" appearance of the trunk.
Bright Indirect Light. It loves light but can be sensitive to intense, direct afternoon sun which may scorch its tiny leaves.
Extremely Gritty/Inorganic. Use a mix of pumice, lava rock, and coarse sand. It requires maximum drainage to protect the caudex.
Careful & Seasonal. This is a winter grower. Water more regularly in autumn/winter when leaves are present, and keep nearly bone-dry in summer dormancy.