Short thick spikey leaves

by Whitney Hamm
(Joplin, MO)

I've attached some pictures of this succulent. It was bought years ago and at some point the label was lost. For two years now it has been sending out these long stalks of flowers, shown in the pictures. The flowers are white (I'm not sure if that comes through in the pictures) and bloom and die fairly quickly. Thanks for any help you can give me in identifying it!

Drought Smart Plants reply: Hi Whitney, what you have is one of the most reliable and charming little plants I've had the good fortune to stumble onto. These are Haworthia, a relative of Aloe and other plants in the Lily family.

However, unlike most Aloe, Gasteria and similar plants, they don't require bright light.

In fact, they are happier in regular curtain filtered light.

Many of them will turn weird colors if they are kept in a hot, bright and dry environment. It's misleading when you see those chubby little succulent leaves; you would think they are desert plants.

Check closely, and see the translucent windows in the leaves, making striking patterns in some cases. Even the flowers, tiny though they are, seen under magnification reveal some delightful striations and colors.

Enjoy your lovely little Haworthia, it could be the start of a great succulent collection!
Jacki