# Haworthia

Haworthia plants are small succulents with thick, fleshy leaves that grow in rosettes. They are easy to care for and make great houseplants, adding a touch of green to any room.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Desert
- **Also known as:** Pearl Plant, Zebra Plant

![Haworthia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Haworthia_mirabilis_in_cultivation_6.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Abu Shawka, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Haworthia_mirabilis_in_cultivation_6.jpg)

## Appearance

The Haworthia is a small, striking succulent plant often forming a tight rosette of chunky, geometric leaves. These leaves can be dark green to reddish-brown, often textured with white bumps or translucent 'windows' at their tips, making it visually distinct.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Streptophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asparagales
- **Family:** Asphodelaceae
- **Genus:** Haworthia

## Interesting facts

- Its tiny white flowers often look like a string of little pearls on a tall stalk!
- Many Haworthia can live for over 20 years, becoming cherished long-term plant friends!
- Some species grow almost entirely underground, with just their clear leaf tips poking out!
- These plants are often called "zebra plants" because of their striking striped leaf patterns!

## Special abilities

- **See-Through Skin:** Haworthia has translucent leaf tips, called 'windows,' that let sunlight deep inside its leaves to help it photosynthesize.
- **Water Storehouse:** Haworthia can store large amounts of water in its thick, fleshy leaves to survive long periods of drought in dry habitats.
- **Master of Disguise:** Some Haworthia species blend perfectly with surrounding rocks and pebbles, helping them hide from thirsty animals.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-20 cm
- **Spread:** 5-25 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar from its small flowers
- **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — grazes on its succulent leaves
- **Shelter:** Wolf Spider (*Pardosa cribrata*) — hides among its dense leaf rosettes

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates.
- [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)
- [Succulents](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/succulents)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

While Haworthia plants are safe to touch, avoid ingesting any part of the plant as it may cause mild stomach upset.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Haworthia?

Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Haworthia?

5-20 cm

### How wide does Haworthia spread?

5-25 cm

### How big are the flowers on Haworthia?

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does Haworthia bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is Haworthia edible?

No

### Is Haworthia toxic?

None

### What is Haworthia's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Haworthia: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/haworthia)