Publication: Pl. Succ. Horto Alencon. 7; Haw. Syn. Pl. Succ. 93.
Description
Haworthia cymbiformis is a lovely dwarf species characterized by very plump and juicy leaves which are soft and swollen with stored water. It comes from a wide area, and a multitude of somewhat different looking forms are available under this name. It is very variable.
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, boat-shaped, acute, 2-4(-5) cm long, up to 2 cm broad, 4-5 mm thick, upper surface slightly concave or sometime slightly convex, rounded on the back, prominently keeled upwards, not distinctly aristate (terminal bristle 1-5 mm long) , margin and keel smooth, sometime slightly serrated near the tips, green, bluish-green to greenish-grey, yellowish-green, turning yellow or orange red in full sun, marked especially in the upper half with indistinct anastomosing vertical achlorophyllous lines forming a translucent surface with ample irregular areas free of pigmentation known as windows (Some other genus such as Fenestraria also have transparent leaf tips). In the wild, the sun is very bright, and the plant grows mostly buried by sand with only these transparent tips above the ground. The greater part of the leaf, the cone mantle, is not exposed directly to the sun since the leaf is embedded into the soil, but receive the light incident on the windows transmitted trough the colourless water storage tissue to the assimilatory tissue located in the underground base of the leaf.
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
South Africa, East London in the east to Port Elizabeth in the west and northwards to Adelaide and Committees on the Fish River. This species has practically the same distribution range as Haworthia cooperi.
Habitat: It grows in a summer rainfall area and forms dense clumps hanging in crevices on rocky slopes of Witteberg quartzite along rivers and streams with southern aspect.
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) offsett.
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
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Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons” Springer, 2001
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Charles L. Scott “The genus Haworthia (Liliaceae): a taxonomic revision” Aloe Books, 1985
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Stuart Max Walters “The European Garden Flora: Pteridophyta, Gymbospermae, Angiospermae-Monocotyledons” Cambridge University Press, 1984
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M. B. Bayer “The new Haworthia handbook” National Botanic Gardens of South Africa, 1982
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John Pilbeam “Haworthia and Astroloba: A Collector’s Guide” B. T. Batsford Limited, 1983
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Gordon D. Rowley “The illustrated encyclopedia of succulents” Crown Publishers, 01/Aug/1978
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Linda R. Berg “Introductory Botany: Plants, People, and the Environment” Cengage Learning, 02/Mar/2007
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Dieter J. Von Willert “Life strategies of succulents in deserts: with special reference to the Namib desert” CUP Archive, 1992
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A. J. van Laren “Succulents other than cacti” Abbey San Encino Press, 1934
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Walther Haage “Cacti and succulents: a practical handbook” Dutton, 1963
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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
From llifle page Aloe planifolia
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.
Source: Aloe planifolia, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Aloe cuspidata
Description
Haworthia cuspidata is a rosette forming plant supposedly a cross between Haworthia retusa and Haworthia cymbiformis. It is also known as “star window plant” At the tips of the leaves are translucent windows for which the plant is named. It offsets freely to form clusters and is a good ground cover.
Sometimes confused wHaworthia cymbiformisrmis, however, the leaves Haworthia cuspidata are chunkier and shorter than those Haworthia cymbiformis. Is is a strong and pretty hardy plant.
Stem: Stemless.
Rosettes: Star-like, short and plump, tight, 6 to 10 cm across.
Leaves: Lime green to greenish-grey, wedge-shaped, pointed at the tip, with darker green glassy “windowed” translucent areas near tips.
Flowers:
Blooming season: Summer.
Cultivation and Propagation
There’s no difference in cultivation from usual plants of this type. Though it grows more slowly.
Exposure: Needs light shade to shade.
Watering: It needs regular water (They enjoy a little water during winter period too) but do not overwater as they will most likely wind up with root rot, and do not water again until dry!
Hardiness: Hardy to -1°C (or less for a short time). Outdoor in the garden it can take lots of winter rains (despite cold) and don’t seem to bother it much.
Propagation: Offsets (New plants are freely produced basally between the leaves)
Source: Aloe cuspidata, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Haworthia planifolia f. agavoides
Description
This forms has nice large flattened rosettes.
Leaves: Light green to dark grenn, somewhat windowed, very wide and soft to the touch.
Origin and Habitat
Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Cultivation and Propagation
There’s no difference in cultivation from usual Haworthia cymbiformis type. Though it grows more slowly.
Exposure: Needs light shade to shade.
Watering needs: regular water (They enjoy a little water during winter period too) but do not overwater as they will most likely wind up with root rot, and do not water again until dry! Hardy to -1°C.
Propagation: Offsets (New plants are produced basally between the leaves)
Source: Haworthia planifolia f. agavoides, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
Cultivars and forms (11)
Varieties (6)
Gallery
