Here is more pictures and info. Can grow without leaves.

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/TYLECODON/Tylecodon_buchholzianus/Tylecodon_buchholzianus/Tylecodon_buchholzianus.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: webpage on the plant

Noki,

It's actually one of the more common Tylecodons, but it's a wonderful winter-grower cousin of the jade (its name is an anagram of its first genus name, Cotyledon)It cannot grow without leaves - it can flower without them, however. I don't remember if this is a T. that flowers before or after leafing out in September or so.

And he clearly knows little about the plant when he states this

'Keep dry Nov-Jan, leaves will fall, then water from February to get flowers and winter growth. Best grown hard, no fertiliser'

I also find the fact that he doesn't mention that it's poisonous (although not the most poisonous of the lot).

Did you bid for it successfully? That's a decent price on that plant pictured, IMO.

No, I didn't win that... but thought about it. Was that specimen pruned to look cool bonsai like? Each pic I see looks different, some are more shrubby. Some have more "nubs".

Growth habit is effected by growing conditions. Full sun, pour soil, limited fertilizer and water produce a short stocky plant. Most plants I see are watered and fed too much and given insufficient light, resulting in a leggy thin specimen.

I only see these at the local succulent shows... rarely see one in full foliage, but here's one with at least partial foliage

here's one that I just missed flowering

here is mine. i got it in June 2012, 3in pot

Thanks for the images/ideas. Had to have one. Bought one, the pic on the link is supposed to be the one I won... hopefully it is a good plant. Don't have yet.

Here is a link that might be useful: