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Haworthia mirabilis (Haw.) Haw.

Family: ALOACEAE

Publication: Syn. Pl. Succ. 95. 1812

Description

Haworthia mirabilis is a slow growing species that stay usually solitary but that can occasionally proliferates after several years and when properly grown it is very decorative. The superlative epithets of this variety (mirabilis = worthy of admiration) give a hint of the exquisite beauty of this plant, that shows shades of bronze-rose in half shade culture.

Related species: Haworthia mirabilis is related and intergrade in habitat with Haworthia magnifica and Haworthia maraisii in the East.

Rosettes: Stemless, with 8-15 leaves, to 5-7 cm in diameter, slowly proliferous.

Leaves: 3-4 cm long, up to 1,5 cm thick, dark green, lanceolate, markedly retuse, tips recurved and acute, face somewhat translucent with a prominent central line extending almost to the tip and 2 shorter lines, lower surface with tubercles, marginal spines white turning reddish in sun. Terminal bristle to 1 cm.

Inflorescence: Wiry, slender up to 25 cm tall.

Flowers: Narrowly elongate, bud S-shaped. Petals pinched at tips.

Origin and Habitat

Republic of South Africa (Western Cape: South-West of Bredasdorp near Mierkraal).

Cultivation and Propagation

Haworthia mirabilis is one of the choicest but slow growing of the retuse-leaved haworthias.

Watering needs: It needs regular water but do not water again until dry. Also, it is a species that is dormant in the winter and require very little water (maybe even none) during the cold months.

Frost Tolerance: Light frost protection required. Minimum of 5ºC for safe growing (but hardy up to -5°C or less.)

Sun Exposure: Some shade is also in order, as the plants grows typically under the protection of bushes. Can be sunburned if moved from shade/greenhouse into full sun too quickly. The amount of sunlight it can withstand without scorching depends upon the how hot it becomes in the summer in the locale in which it is planted. It will have more colour if it receives more light. During the spring it may be able to take some sun until the heat arrives at the end of spring. In an area that has hot afternoon sun, it may be able to take full morning sun, but requires afternoon shade or afternoon light shade.

Propagation: Usually by seeds or offsets that occasionally appear at the base between the leaves; leave them attached until they are 1/3 the size of the parent and then detach and plant.

Bibliography

Major references and further lectures

  1. Gordon D. Rowley “The illustrated encyclopedia of succulents” Crown Publishers, 01/Aug/1978

  2. Dieter J. Von Willert “Life strategies of succulents in deserts: with special reference to the Namib desert” CUP Archive, 1992

  3. Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons” Springer, 2001

  4. Charles L. Scott “The genus Haworthia (Liliaceae): a taxonomic revision” Aloe Books, 1985

  5. Stuart Max Walters “The European Garden Flora: Pteridophyta, Gymbospermae, Angiospermae-Monocotyledons” Cambridge University Press, 1984

  6. M. B. Bayer “The new Haworthia handbook” National Botanic Gardens of South Africa, 1982

  7. John Pilbeam “Haworthia and Astroloba: A Collector’s Guide” B. T. Batsford Limited, 1983

  8. Bruce Bayer “Haworthia revisited: a revision of the genus” Umdaus Press, 1999

Cultivars and forms (4)

Subspecies (1)

Varieties (3)