Scientific Name
Lithops bromfieldii L.Bolus
Common Name(s)
Living Stones
Synonym(s)
Lithops bromfieldii f. sulphurea, Lithops insularis, Lithops mennellii
Scientific Classification
Family: Aizoaceae
Subfamily: Ruschioideae
Tribe: Ruschieae
Genus: Lithops
Etymology
The specific epithet "bromfieldii (brom-FEELD-ee-eye)" honors Mr. H. Bromfield (fl. 1933); no further data is available.
Origin
Lithops bromfieldii is native to South Africa. It grows in quartzite, often hidden in the bushes in the Northern Cape province.
Description
Lithops bromfieldii is a dwarf succulent that grows solitary or forms clumps of usually 2 to 10 bodies in an inverted cone shape. The bodies can reach up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) in height. Each body consists of two thick, fleshy, pinkish-grey leaves separated by a shallow fissure. The upper surface of the body is flat or slightly convex, elliptical to kidney-shaped, measuring up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and 0.8 inches (2 cm) wide. The leaf windows are dark green or more or less absent with irregular yellow-brown and red to dark brown-red markings.
The flowers are yellow and appear from the fissure between the leaves in fall. They can reach up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) in diameter.
How to Grow and Care for Lithops bromfieldii
Light: A sunny windowsill where the plant receives 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight during the early part of the day and partial shade during the afternoon is the perfect spot to grow your L. bromfieldii. You may place the pot on the balcony or in the garden from spring to fall.
Soil: L. bromfieldii thrives best in a growing medium that will drain quickly. Use a commercial soil mix for succulents, or make your own potting mix.
Hardiness: High temperatures are not a problem for this plant as long as there is plenty of fresh air, but it is not a cold-hardy succulent. L. bromfieldii can withstand temperatures as low as 30 to 50 °F (-1.1 to 10 °C), USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b.
Watering: Like all Lithops, this succulent has a specific yearly cycle of growth, and it is important to water only during certain stages, but it is also important to keep the soil dry at other stages of its growth. How often you need to water your L. bromfieldii depends on how quickly the potting mix dries out. It is essential to let the soil dry out between waterings. Stop watering during the winter to allow the old leaf pair to dry out and the new pair to develop.
Fertilizing: L. bromfieldii does not need to be fertilized. It will thrive without any feeding. However, if you feed, use a fertilizer with high potassium and low nitrogen levels.
Repotting: This small succulent will happily stay in the same pot for several decades. The common reason for repotting is to divide the plant or to allow space for clusters to grow. Repot only when its growing season starts.
Propagation: L. bromfieldii is most often grown from seeds. If you have a multi-headed plant, it can also be propagated by division. Sow the seeds during the summer.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Lithops.
Toxicity of Lithops bromfieldii
L. bromfieldii is non-toxic and safe to have around children and pets.
Forms and Varieties of Lithops bromfieldii
Links
- Back to genus Lithops
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
