Publication: J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 18: 209 (1880)
Description
Haworthia cymbiformis var. obtusa is one of the innumerable morphological forms of the very variable Haworthia cymbiformis characterized by denser rosettes forming round clumps. It has peculiar bright green leaves that looks like molded glass. The leaves are thicker, obovate, with entire margins, and leaf-tips are rather obtuse or rounded and pellucid. It is vaguely reminiscent of Haworthia cooperi var. truncata.
Habit: It is a spreading ground cover succulent forming dense mats of very succulents and juicy leaf-rosettes partially sunken into the soil, and reaching a diameter of 15 (or more) centimetres. In habitat only the leaf tips, which has a finger-tip-like appearance, protrude from the soil surface.
Roots: Superficial.
Stem: Stemless or shortly caulescent
Rosette: Stemless, dense, 20–25 leafed, 3-10 cm in diameter.
Leaves: Succulent, soft, very juicy, obovate with entire margins, and leaf-tips are rather obtuse or rounded and pellucid..
Flowers: Relatively inconspicuous whitish/greenish with a light pinkish-brown keel, peduncle simple, 15 cm long; raceme lax, 15 long; lower pedicels 4-6 mm long; bracts small, ovate; perianth 2 cm long; segments nearly as long as the tube.
Blooming season: Spring to summer.
Chromosome number: n = 7
Origin and Habitat
Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Cultivation and Propagation
Haworthia are of easy cultivation and relatively low maintenance, which makes them a good houseplant, and can be an excellent subject for the beginning succulentophile (they can grow easily on window sills, verandas and in miniature succulent gardens where they are happy to share their habitat with other smaller succulent plants, or in outdoor rockeries). Haworthias are winter growers and are dormant in the hottest summer months.
Growth rate: They are relatively fast-growing plants that offsets freely to form small clusters quickly.
Soil: They are tolerant of a wide range of soils and habitats, but prefer a very porous potting mix to increase drainage. A non-acid soil is ideal. You can grow a plant in a 10-15 cm pot for years and have perfectly happy plants. For best results, use a shallow pot.
Exposition: The plant needs light shade to shade, but will take full sun part of the day. (with some sun exposure the leaf develops a nice reddish tint and remains compact).
Watering: During the hot summer months, the soil should be kept moist but not overly wet. During the winter months, water only when the soil becomes completely dry. Wet soil quickly causes root and stem rot, especially during chilly winter months. No water should ever be allowed to stand around the roots. Low ambient humidity is always needed.
Fertilization: The plants are fertilized only once during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ the recommended strength.
Hardiness: Although the plant will survive mild frost if kept dry (hardy as low as -5° C) it should be protected from severe cold and prolonged frost conditions.
Rot: Rot is only a minor problem with Haworthia if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won’t help all that much. Care must be given in watering, keeping them warm and wet while growing, and cooler and dry when dormant.
Remarks: Haworthias are best planted in a shaded and airy part of the greenhouse, and not too close to the glass roof or sides of the house as the plants can overheat during hot spells.
Propagation: Haworthia are easily propagated by the removal of offshoots or by leaf cuttings in spring or summer. To propagate by leaf cuttings, remove a leaf and let it lie for about one month, giving the wound time to heal. Then lay the leaf on its side with the basal part buried in the soil. This leaf should root within a month or two, and small plants will form at the leaf base. They can also be grown from seed.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
-
Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons” Springer, 2001
-
Charles L. Scott “The genus Haworthia (Liliaceae): a taxonomic revision” Aloe Books, 1985
-
Stuart Max Walters “The European Garden Flora: Pteridophyta, Gymbospermae, Angiospermae-Monocotyledons” Cambridge University Press, 1984
-
M. B. Bayer “The new Haworthia handbook” National Botanic Gardens of South Africa, 1982
-
John Pilbeam “Haworthia and Astroloba: A Collector’s Guide” B. T. Batsford Limited, 1983
-
Gordon D. Rowley “The illustrated encyclopedia of succulents” Crown Publishers, 01/Aug/1978
-
Linda R. Berg “Introductory Botany: Plants, People, and the Environment” Cengage Learning, 02/Mar/2007
-
Dieter J. Von Willert “Life strategies of succulents in deserts: with special reference to the Namib desert” CUP Archive, 1992
-
A. J. van Laren “Succulents other than cacti” Abbey San Encino Press, 1934
-
Walther Haage “Cacti and succulents: a practical handbook” Dutton, 1963
-
Adrian Hardy Haworth “A new Arrangement of the Genus Aloe, with a chronological Sketch of the progressive Knowledge of that Genus, and of other succulent Genera.” In: Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Band 7, Nummer 1, London 1804
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Walter Erhardt, Erich Götz, Nils Bödeker, Siegmund Seybold: “Der große Zander” Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart 2008(German.)
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Christoper Brickell “RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants” Third edition. Dorling Kindersley, London 2003
From llifle page Haworthia hilliana
Description
Plant forming large mats of cylindrical stems with small, succulent leaves and white spines, often consisting of hundreds of individual segments. It is small in size, and can reach 15 cm in height, but it can grow up to more than a meter in diameter.
Leaves: The foliage is formed by a dense mass of dark green, cylindrical and almost needle-like leaves. It keeps its leaves in the winter.
Flowers: Remarkably beautiful, large, soft, satiny, lemon-yellow.
Blooming season: Late spring.
Origin and Habitat
Southern Chile, but also crosses the border into western Argentina at places.
Habitat: Grows at very high altitudes of above 1500 m in extremely xeric regions of Patagonia mainly in volcanic ashfields in subalpine forests, thin grassland and stony plateaux.
Cultivation and Propagation
Maihuenia poeppigii is an easy-to-grow plant, it is a surprisingly moisture-tolerant cactus, is said also to be reliably cold-hardy in central Europe and England. Of the two species Maihuenia poeppegii is the hardiest species and it can survive outside in the garden in the sunny rockery on a sheltered place, but only if it’s protected with a sheet of glass during the wintertime. It is also very good for a large pot which can be stored inside an unheated greenhouse or on a balcony, somewhat protected from moisture during the winter, but is probably safest to grow it in the Alpine House or in a raised bed inside an unheated greenhouse all year around, with lots of ventilation.. It doesn’t fear cold weather and it bears very harsh frost, and temperatures of around -10° (or less down to -20° if dry) degrees Celsius did not harm these plants at all. They should not be kept hot in summer as they are from high elevations. during the beautiful season it’s good to enrich the soil of our succulent plants; using a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorous, but poor in nitrogen, because this chemical element doesn’t help the development of succulent plants, making them too soft and full of water. For a balanced development, it is best to position the the Maihuenia poeppigii in a place where it is exposed to at least a few hours of direct sunlight. Water these plants only from time to time if grown outdoors, but it should be watered abundantly if grown in a pot or in the greenhouse, during the summer. The spring weather, with a high temperature swing between the day and night hours, and pretty frequent rains, can favour the development of fungus diseases, which should be treated pre-emptively with a systemic fungicide. We suggest repotting every 2-3 years.
This species can also be grown anchored without soil on a roof (like for the sempervivums).
Notes
Closest relatives: Maihuenias are very strange and unusual cacti that in earlier literature were supposed to be related to Opuntia, Pereskia and Pereskiopsis, but DNA sequencing of this group has determined that Maihuenia is not related to any of those.
Source: Haworthia hilliana, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Haworthia umbraticola
Cultivation and Propagation
They are amongst the easiest Haworthias to grow. On account of their easy cultivation these plants are fairly common in collections and are more tolerant of injudicious watering than the others. They must be repotted frequently, because every year a part of their roots die and then rots in the pot. They are very responsive to differing cultural conditions both as regards colour, length and shape of leaves, rate of growth and size of plant.
Watering Needs: Water regularly in the growing season, but avoid water-logging and let dry between watering, they should never dry out completely during the rest period.
Frost Tolerance: Hardy to -1 (-5)°C.
Propagation: Seeds or (usually) offsets.
Sun Exposure: It prefers locations with diffuse sunlight or light shade, it can tolerate shade. It proliferates rapidly and should be exposed to at least some direct sunlight to prevent bloating and excessive softening of the plants, but shelter from direct sun during the hottest hours! Plants can have more remarkable colour under stress and if more exposed to direct sunlight.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
-
Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons” Springer, 2001
-
Charles L. Scott “The genus Haworthia (Liliaceae): a taxonomic revision” Aloe Books, 1985
-
Stuart Max Walters “The European Garden Flora: Pteridophyta, Gymbospermae, Angiospermae-Monocotyledons” Cambridge University Press, 1984
-
M. B. Bayer “The new Haworthia handbook” National Botanic Gardens of South Africa, 1982
-
John Pilbeam “Haworthia and Astroloba: A Collector’s Guide” B. T. Batsford Limited, 1983
-
Gordon D. Rowley “The illustrated encyclopedia of succulents” Crown Publishers, 01/Aug/1978
-
Linda R. Berg “Introductory Botany: Plants, People, and the Environment” Cengage Learning, 02/Mar/2007
-
Dieter J. Von Willert “Life strategies of succulents in deserts: with special reference to the Namib desert” CUP Archive, 1992
-
A. J. van Laren “Succulents other than cacti” Abbey San Encino Press, 1934
-
Walther Haage “Cacti and succulents: a practical handbook” Dutton, 1963
-
Adrian Hardy Haworth “A new Arrangement of the Genus Aloe, with a chronological Sketch of the progressive Knowledge of that Genus, and of other succulent Genera.” In: Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Band 7, Nummer 1, London 1804
Source: Haworthia umbraticola, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.