The Ruacana petalidium is best planted in a sunny, well-drained position in a subtropical, frost-free gardens. It also thrives in containers and can be grown in greenhouses. The plants featured here are grown in the Botanical Society conservatory, together with the Kaoko petalidium, in large containers and the plants are trained to cover the netted pillars. The two related species are easily distinguished by the large overlapping bracts of the Ruacana petalidium which are lacking in the Kaoko petalidium. The plants are grown in areas which receive some sunlight, but also have shady corners and they thrive and are very floriferous. Pruning can be done throughout the summer should it be necessary to keep it compact and neat, but the best time is in winter when the plant is in its resting season. The Ruacana petalidium was first cultivated in Pretoria in 1955 from plants collected by Dr Bernard De Winter on an expedition to Ovamboland during November 1955. His plants were collected east of Etosha Pan. The plant was illustrated by Cythna Letty (Obermeyer 1959). Mrs Obermeyer reported that the plant was cultivated at the Botanical Research Institute Garden at Pretoria where it grew rapidly into a lax shrub about 2 m tall, and in spite of the severe frost experienced in 1957, the plant resprouted from its base, again reaching a height of 6 feet after only 9 months.