Haworthia

Haworthia is a large genus of small, perennial, succulent plants in the Asphodelaceae family, native to South Africa. The genus, Haworthia, was formerly known as Haworthiopsis and, over time, species have been moved from one genus to the other depending on the characteristics of their leaves. In general, succulants in the Haworthiopsis genus have opaque, linear leaves, either basal or rosette, with white spots on the back of the leaves. On some species, these spots are joined to form bands. Haworthia, on the other hand, tend to have translucent epidermal windows on the tops of the leaves. Note that the divisions among these genus are still being debated.

Haworthia tend to have erect or creeping stems from a thick woody root stock and often form small to large groups of plants. In the wild, these plants grow in very harsh conditions and are commonly found buried in sand. For gardeners, they are easy to grow, preferring a well-draining soil mix.  While they are somewhat tolerant of low-light conditions, they prefer full sun or bright direct light, which also produces the best colors in the leaves.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

Excessive watering can cause root rot. Sensitive to frost.

VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.