Ox Tongue Gasteria gracilis

This gasteria is a small slow-growing succulent from South Africa with fleshy stemless leaves that form a rosette. The leaves are deep green to gray and speckled with white dots. The flowers appear on long stems with dangling bi-colored tubular flowers in winter and spring. Grown in a pot, it generally stays 6 inches tall, but grows larger in its native habitat.

Grow in pots with several drainage holes in a medium suitable for cacti and succulents. They can be taken outdoors during the summer but give them protection from the hot afternoon sun. Unlike many succulents, they can tolerate some shade. Inside give them bright light and allow the soil to dry between waterings. They can be fertilized during the growing season with a fertilizer for cacti.