Pig's ear

Cotyledon orbiculata, commonly called pig’s ear or round-leafed navel-wort, is an evergreen succulent shrub with thick, gray-green leaves that may have red edges. Its orange-red, bell-shaped flowers appear in late summer and autumn, and the waxy foliage gives the plant a sculptural look in containers or warm-climate gardens. The [Royal Horticultural Society](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/114300/cotyledon-orbiculata/details) describes its foliage, flowers and garden conditions; [UC Davis Arboretum](https://www.arboretum.ucdavis.edu/all-stars/cotyledon-orbiculata) reports summer flowers, a mature spread of about two to four feet and low to very low water needs. ## Placement Provide a sunny position and well-drained sandy or loamy soil. The species can be grown as a patio or container plant, and its sculptural leaves suit rock gardens and other dry-looking compositions. Published size ranges vary: RHS gives roughly 1.6–3.3 feet tall and 0.3–1.6 feet wide, while UC Davis describes a broader spread of two to four feet. Allow room for variation and avoid crowding it against smaller plants. ## Maintenance Water sparingly once established, letting the soil drain between waterings. Remove spent flower stems or damaged leaves when needed; RHS notes that routine pruning is not required. ## San Luis Obispo County — January 2014 The [County-Approved Plant List](https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/planning-building/forms-documents/environmental-forms-and-documents/plants-information/county-approved-plant-list) rates Cotyledon varieties at F2: its most fire-retardant planting category, for 30–70 feet from a structure. This plant is a provisional representative of that group; the source does not independently name or assess this particular species or selection. This county shrub-group listing is separate from Queensland’s unresolved Cotyledon groundcover entry. Follow the county’s conditions for plant health, watering and fire-buffer design: avoid overcrowding, remove dead material, maintain separate planting groups and prevent ground-to-canopy fuel connections. Keep other regional source ratings and their placement instructions separate; the county categories are not a universal flammability scale.