Scientific Name
Gasteria nitida (Salm-Dyck) Haw.
Common Names
Bathurst Gasteria
Synonyms
Gasteria nitida var. nitida, Aloe decipiens, Aloe elongata, Aloe nitida, Aloe obtusa, Aloe trigona, Gasteria beckeri, Gasteria decipiens, Gasteria obtusa, Gasteria stayneri, Gasteria trigona, Haworthia nigricans, Haworthia nitida
Scientific Classification
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Tribe: Aloeae
Genus: Gasteria
Description
Gasteria nitida is a stemless, highly variable succulent with fat triangular spotted leaves. Young plants look noticeably different from mature plants. Young plants are distichous, with tongue-shaped, recurved, rough leaves in two opposite rows, while mature plants have triangular, more upright, smooth, and shiny leaves usually arranged in a rosette. The plant grows solitary or proliferates from the base to form clumps. Flowers are dark reddish-pink with yellow throats and appear in summer on branched inflorescence.
The specific epithet "nitida" means "shiny" in Latin and refers to the leaf surfaces.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Gasterias are often grouped with Haworthia because the plants have similar cultural requirements. Both are attractive small succulents that can tolerate more shade than many succulents, making them more suitable as houseplants. Gasterias are susceptible to fungal infections, which usually appear as black spots on the leaves. These result from too much humidity or water on the leaves, but they should not spread too quickly. Gasterias have a natural defense mechanism against such fungal attacks and attack the invading organism and seal off the wounded spot. In general, any place where Haworthia and Aloe thrive will be hospitable to a Gasteria.
Gasterias are small, shallow-rooted, and relatively slow-growing. Therefore, they are often grown in small clusters in wide, shallow dishes. Over time, clusters will naturally enlarge as the mother plant sends off small plantlets.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Gasteria.
Origin
This species is native to the Eastern Cape grasslands of South Africa.
Varieties
Links
- Back to genus Gasteria
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
