Scientific Name
Lithops fulviceps 'Aurea'
Synonym(s)
Lithops fulviceps var. fulviceps 'Aurea', Lithops fulviceps f. aurea
Common Name(s)
White Living Stones
Scientific Classification
Family: Aizoaceae
Subfamily: Ruschioideae
Tribe: Ruschieae
Genus: Lithops
Etymology
The cultivar epithet "aurea (AW-re-uh)" means "made of gold, golden" and refers to the color of the flowers.
Origin
This succulent is a form of Lithops fulviceps with greenish leaves and white flowers, published as a cultivar by Desmond Cole in 1985. It appeared in Yasuhiko Shimada seedlings in Japan. The Latin epithet "Aurea" is retained based on Lithops fulviceps f. aurea, which has subsequently become widely known and accepted as a cultivar.
Description
Lithops fulviceps 'Aurea' is a small succulent with bodies consisting of thick, fleshy, yellowish-green to creamy-blue-green leaves. The bodies can grow up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) tall and 4 inches (2.5 cm) wide. Older plants form clumps of up to 10 bodies. The top surface of the leaves is flattened with many slightly raised, dark gray-green to blue-green dots.
The flowers are white 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 fulviceps 'Aurea'
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. fulviceps 'Aurea'. You may place the pot on the balcony or in the garden from spring to fall.
Soil: L. fulviceps 'Aurea' thrives best in a growing medium that will drain quickly. Use a commercial soil mix for succulents or make your own.
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. fulviceps 'Aurea' 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. fulviceps 'Aurea' 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. fulviceps 'Aurea' does not need to be fertilized. It will thrive without any feeding. If you decide to 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 allow space for clusters to grow. Repot only when its growing season starts.
Propagation: L. fulviceps 'Aurea' 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 fulviceps 'Aurea'
L. fulviceps 'Aurea' is non-toxic and safe around children and pets.
Links
- Back to genus Lithops
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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