Scientific Name
Haworthia cooperi var. truncata (H.Jacobsen) M.B.Bayer
Synonym(s)
Haworthia ikra, Haworthia obtusa f. truncata
Scientific Classification
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Tribe: Aloeae
Genus: Haworthia
Etymology
The specific epithet "cooperi" (pronounced "koo-PER-ee") honors Thomas Cooper (1815–1913), an English botanist and explorer who collected plants in South Africa from 1859 to 1862.
The varietal epithet "truncata" (pronounced "trunk-AH-tuh") means "truncated; cut off at the apex." It refers to the leaves of this variety, which have blunt tips that make them look cut off. In contrast, the leaves of Haworthia cooperi var. cooperi are pointed.
Description
Haworthia cooperi var. truncata is a beautiful succulent that forms small rosettes of glossy, round-tipped leaves with lovely blue-green translucent patterns at the tips. It's a fast-offsetting, smaller-growing variety of Haworthia cooperi that forms small colonies reaching a diameter of 3 inches (7.5 cm). The rosettes have 20 to 25 leaves and resemble a small grape cluster. In intense sunlight or with insufficient water, the leaves may turn reddish.
The whitish flowers appear from spring to summer on simple stalks that can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) long.
Origin
Haworthia cooperi var. truncata is native to South Africa. It occurs north of East London in the Eastern Cape province.
How to Grow and Care for Haworthia cooperi var. truncata
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30°F (-1.1°C) to 50°F (10°C).
These succulents aren't difficult to grow as houseplants. If you can keep a pot of Aloe alive on a windowsill, you can probably do the same with a dish of Haworthia. As with all succulents, the most common issue is overwatering. Never let them sit in water under any circumstances. At the same time, you can grow these small decorative plants in interesting containers such as teacups and even miniature baby shoes. If you're given a Haworthia in such a container, ensure the container has adequate drainage.
Haworthias are small, usually between 3 and 5 inches (7.5 cm and 12.5 cm) in height, and relatively slow-growing. Therefore, they are often grown in small clusters in wide, shallow pots. Over time, clusters will naturally enlarge as the mother plant sends off small plantlets. When the cluster outgrows its pot, repot it into a new, wide, shallow pot with fresh potting soil in spring or early summer. This is also the time to take offsets for propagation.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Haworthia.
Links
- Back to genus Haworthia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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