Haworthia

Types of haworthia

In 2013 and 2014 botanists split Haworthia three ways, and many of the haworthias people actually own now belong to the other two genera. Labels haven’t caught up, so this page covers all three.

• Haworthia (about 60 species). Leaves with translucent “windows” at the tips. The star cactus (H. retusa) has fat, triangular leaves with see-through tips that curve back; H. cooperi has the same glassy tips. H. truncata, nicknamed horse’s teeth, has squarish leaves in rows that look cut off at the top. In the wild, windows let light into leaves that sit half-buried in the ground.
• Haworthiopsis (about 20 species). Stiff, opaque leaves with raised white bumps in spots or bands. The zebra plant (Haworthiopsis attenuata) is the classic. It’s often sold as H. fasciata, a rarer plant whose leaves are smooth on the upper surface.
• Tulista (4 species). Similar to Haworthiopsis until they flower. The pearl plant (Tulista pumila), covered in white bumps, is the biggest of the four, with leaves up to about 6 inches long.

Haworthia care in brief

• Light. They manage on less light than most succulents. An east or west window with a few hours of direct sun is ideal; a south window can be too bright for some. Stretched, faded leaves mean too little light.
• Water. Water once the soil has dried: about weekly in summer, less often in winter. Many species do most of their growing from late winter through spring. Root rot from soggy soil is the main problem, and mealybugs are the main pest.
• Soil. Roughly half potting soil and half perlite, pumice or grit. Skip sand, which clogs the gaps.
• Temperature. Normal room temperatures suit them. They’ll tolerate the low 40s °F (about 5°C) if the soil isn’t wet, but keep them away from frost.
• Pets. ASPCA lists haworthias, including zebra haworthia, as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• More plants. Many make pups around the base. Separate them, let any cut dry for a few days, then pot them up.