Royal Flush split rock

Names and identity

'Royal Flush' is a pink-to-purple selection of the split rock. Each active body is made from thick opposing leaf pairs; a new pair emerges through the central split and uses water stored in the older pair.

Arrival and repotting

Ordered from Mountain Crest Gardens on August 25, 2026, this plant arrived on August 28 in a 2-inch nursery pot. Its roots were inspected by hand, and approximately 95% of the nursery soil was removed before repotting into the current 4 × 4 × 3.7-inch round pot. The arrival mix was slightly moist. On August 29, the complete pot weighed 353.5 g, and the plant measured 1.3 in high × 1.7 in wide with a ruler.

The mix is Molly's Succulent Mix with added perlite. The owner estimated 80% Molly's / 20% perlite on September 20; this is a recollection rather than a measured recipe.

The shipment was described as outdoor-grown in California sun and carried an agricultural inspection sticker. It was not quarantined after the initial hand inspection; routine pest checks remain useful.

Seller listing snapshot

Mountain Crest Gardens listing, inspected 2026-08-26:

Seller field	Listing value
SKU	S2JY2848
Product size	2.0-inch pot
Current / seasonal color	Purple or black / blue or blue-green
Bloom	Highlights say golden; product field says pink
Hardiness	Zone 10; seller threshold 30 °F
Recommended light	Bright indoor light; full sun
Maximum height / body spread	3–5 inches / 3–4 inches
Growth habit / seasonality	Clumping or mounding / year-round color
Special characteristics	Pet safe; showy blooms — seller fields

The seller recommends an 80% mineral / 20% organic medium and a deep narrow pot. For this indoor plant, use root-zone dryness and the active leaf pair's firmness together: an older pair can wrinkle as the inner leaves draw on its stored water.

Origin, form, and publication

The underlying species is a South African mimicry plant whose speckled, angular leaf pairs resemble surrounding stone. GBIF accepts Pleiospilos nelii; the species was published in 1930. The cultivar name describes a horticultural color selection. The species produces fragrant, insect-pollinated flowers that open in mid-afternoon; its seed capsules open when wet and close as they dry.

September 25 condition update

The owner reported that the emerging new pair is firm, the oldest pair is getting quite small and wrinkled, and the second-oldest pair is still quite firm, with perhaps a very slight amount of softness. That possible softness remains uncertain. These are owner-reported tactile and leaf-stage observations. No new medium-moisture, root, weight, watering, or feeding observation accompanied the update.

Care in this collection

Rotation, propagation, and watch points

• Keep a consistent photographed orientation until the active leaf cycle is understood; routine rotation can begin later if growth remains even.
• Multiple persistent leaf pairs, translucence, or a soft base can indicate excess water; isolate and inspect rather than adding another drink.
• Do not peel off an older pair that is still being absorbed.
• Judge watering from its leaf cycle and root-zone dryness, separately from the collection's ordinary cactus dry-down routine.

Sources

• Owner condition report received September 25, 2026, about 5:09 p.m. EDT: firmness and condition of the three leaf pairs; exact hands-on observation time not supplied.

• SANBI PlantZAfrica: split rock flowers, habitat and seed capsules

• Owner arrival and repot observations, August 28–29, 2026; medium description, September 20: Molly's Succulent Mix with approximately 20% added perlite, an estimated proportion.

• Mountain Crest Gardens: 'Royal Flush' split rock seller listing

• LLIFLE succulent encyclopedia: Pleiospilos nelii 'Royal Flush'

• GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Pleiospilos nelii

• Mountain Crest Gardens: general mesemb and rapidly draining mineral-soil guidance