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Alligator Plant Haworthiopsis tessellata

Other plants called Alligator Plant:

Previously known as:

  • Haworthia tessellata
  • Haworthia venosa subsp. tessellata
  • Haworthia venosa var. tessellata
Phonetic Spelling
hay-worth-ee-OP-sis tes-sel-LAH-tah
Description

The veined haworthia is a small, stemless, evergreen with a star-like rosette of thick green leaves that can be grown as a houseplant or container plant outdoors. This plant is in the daylily family (Asphodelaceae) and is native to South Africa and Namibia. In its native habitat, the plant can be found in dry shaded areas under a bush or in rock crevices. The species epithet, tessellata, is Latin and means "square patterned" which references the leaves.

The veined haworthia prefers bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight will cause leaf burn. They are drought tolerant and over watering should be avoided. They will do best in well-drained, cactus or succulent potting mix with coarse sand and perlite. They will tolerate temperatures and humidity levels typically found in the home. They will suffer damage if temperatures fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. They are intolerant to high humidity which may cause fungal diseases. They are hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9b to 11b. The plant has stoloniferous roots and can be best propagated by division of offsets or tiny pups that grow at the base of the parent plant.   

The plant is slow-growing and low maintenance, and it will grow 3 to 5 inches tall and 5 to 6 inches wide. It has a clumping, mounding habit that forms a loose rosette of leaves. The leaves are broadly triangular, recurved, firm, and fleshy. Each leaf measures up to 2 inches long and 1.2 inches wide. They are green to brownish with a windowpane pattern and resemble alligator skin. When the leaves are stressed from the bright sunlight or drought, the coloring of the leaf will become a shade of copper or magenta. The leaf margins are recurved and have white teeth. The small, white, tubular flowers grow on slender stalks that are up to 20 inches long.

The veined haworthia is the perfect little plant in warm and dry climate landscapes. As a houseplant, it will fit into small spaces such as your kitchen windowsill.

The genus Haworthiopsis was formerly included within Haworthia (q.v. for a discussion of the differences between the genera).

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Monitor for mealybugs, spider mites, scale,and fungus gnats. Root rot can occur from overwatering or poor drainage.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#houseplant#drought tolerant#white flowers#succulent#slow growing#low maintenance#interesting leaves#mounding#herbaceous perennial#clumping#partial shade tolerant#humidity intolerant#container plant#dense growth
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#houseplant#drought tolerant#white flowers#succulent#slow growing#low maintenance#interesting leaves#mounding#herbaceous perennial#clumping#partial shade tolerant#humidity intolerant#container plant#dense growth
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Haworthiopsis
    Species:
    tessellata
    Family:
    Asphodelaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South Africa
    Distribution:
    Native to Cape Provinces, Free State, Namibia, and Northern Provinces
    Play Value:
    Easy to Grow
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 5 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 5 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Succulent
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Dense
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Description:
    The flowers are small, tubular-shaped and white with green midribs. They grow on slender stalk up to 20 inches long and bloom during the summer.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Variegated
    White
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Deltoid
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are broadly triangular, recurved, thick, firm, fleshy, and form into rosettes. Each leaf measures up to 2 inches long and 1.2 inches wide. The leaves are green to brownish with a window pane pattern or squared pattern design. The upper surface of the leaf has pale green vertical lines. The undersides of the leaf are rounded, rough, and have raised leather-like tubercles. The leaf margins are recurved and have white teeth. When the leaves are stressed from bright sun or drought, they will have a copper to magenta shade of coloring.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stemless
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought