Haworthia are genus of plant from southern Africa and Madigascar. They are highly adaptive succulent that will grow in a wide range of conditions. The usually form rosettes with a small flower stalk similar to the lily family of which they are a member. The flower on less than an inch white with a green stripe down the center of each petal. These plants are grown for their attractive foliage. I especially like the windowed species. The tops of the leaves have a clear window that allows to light to enter deep inside the leaves. There a large group of african that use a variable of this method. The windows allow the photosynthesis to happen in the protected area deep in the leaf. The outsides of the leaves tend to have thick layers to prevent water loss. These plants are from a very hostile arid environment.

My great aunt was a nice woman but she could not keep a houseplant alive if her life depended on it. Haworthia fasciata was in every window of her house. All the plants looked good regardless of the window exposure. They would make pups which she repotted. She did this for years. They would always be some in bloom. When the stem is done you slowly pull it out.

Humidity is not an issue. They adapt to any level.

Watering. This plants is a desert or arid plants. It does not like to have it roots wet all the time. If you are in doubt about watering it wait a day. Many of the plant can survive weeks or months without water. It will grow faster if it receives water regularly like once or twice a week. You can check pick up the pot and judge by the weigh whether it is dry enough to water.

Fertilizer. This is a slow growing plant. It does not need large amount of fertilizer. I would give a quarter strength fertilizing once a month. If the plant seems yellower than it should be give fertilizer every three weeks until it improves. Applying fertilizer has an effect a little helps greatly. If you appy too much it does not work better. It is possible to damage the plant burning the roots if too much is applied over time.

Light. They will grown fine in a window sill to outside in full sunlight. The light levels will change shape, color, and arrangement of the leaves depending on the condition. They can look different to make classifing species difficult. You can take pups from the same plant and grow them in five different plant and think they are different species.

Soil. They will grow in any type of soil that is not too wet. When I live in Illinois, they did fine in top soil. I have also used cactus mix. I have use my water wicking mix that I use for violets. All worked fine as long they are allow to dry out between watering.

Propagation. Usually it is division or the removal of pups placed into new pots. Some species make lots of pups while others is it a seldom thing. Some species are only reproduced by seed. Haworthia truncata is an example of seeds only. This one looks like the leaves were cut off at the top. The latin name means trancated or cut.

Pests. They are really pest free. You might get a mealy bug infestation. Rubbing alcohol will kill them. Apply it with a cotton swap once every few days until you have kill the adults and all the babies hatching from eggs. Spider mites will sometimes attack them.

Pots. They will grow fine in any container. I personally like clay pots. They will do fine in plastic. I have seen them in animal ceramic containers. I think it destracts from the appearence of the plant to be growing in the back of a bunny, or turtle. It will work but  it depends on your personal taste.


There are dozen of not hundreds of species. Individual plants can vary greatly. This ia list of some of species.

H. attentua

H. fascinata has dark green rosettes with white tubercles. The leaves of the white stripe which gives the name the common name Zebra plant. This plant will produce a nice crop of pups.

H. retusa has thick fleshy leaves with windows. The leaves are a light green in color. The end of the leaf has a flat area at the tip. This plant will produce pups

H. truncata the grow with leaves in a straight line. There is center which is the growing point. This plant normally does not produce pups. It is propagated from seeds. You will need to two plant to cross pollinate. The tricky part it have two plants in bloom at the same time. The flowers are very plain looking tiny lily flower that is white or pinkish with a green stripin in the center of each petals. All of the Haworthia flowers like pretty much the same. The leaves are interesting because they look like they were cut off. The name truncata comes of truncated or cut leaves. They have a window that allows the light inside the thick fleshy leaves. In extreme condition with contracting roots the plant pulls itself into ground to protect the heat and intense light.