Scientific Name
Lithops schwantesii Dinter
Common Name(s)
Living Stones
Synonym(s)
Lithops christinae, Lithops inornata, Lithops schwantesii var. gebserii, Lithops schwantesii subsp. schwantesii
Scientific Classification
Family: Aizoaceae
Subfamily: Ruschioideae
Tribe: Ruschieae
Genus: Lithops
Etymology
The specific epithet "schwantesii (shwan-TEZ-ee-eye)" honors Gustav Schwantes (1881-1960), a German archaeologist and botanist specialist of the Aizoaceae family.
Origin
Lithops schwantesii is native to Namibia. It grows on stony hills and low ridges.
Description
Lithops schwantesii is a dwarf succulent that forms a clump of bodies consisting of two opposite leaves divided by a shallow fissure. The bodies can grow up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) tall. The upper surface is slightly convex, measuring up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long and 1.2 inches (3 cm) wide. The leaves are thick, fleshy, usually grey with tinges of red, blue, pink, brown, or green with а pattern of pink-gray to brown lines and dots.
The daisy-like flowers appear in fall from the fissure between the leaves. They can reach up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) in diameter. The fruits are 5- to 6-chambered capsules.
How to Grow and Care for Lithops schwantesii
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. schwantesii. You may place the pot on the balcony or in the garden from spring to fall.
Soil: L. schwantesii thrives best in a growing medium that will drain quickly. Use a commercial soil mix for succulents, or make your own.
Temperature: 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. schwantesii can withstand temperatures as low as 30 °F (-1.1 °C). USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10a to 11b, 30 to 50 °F (-1.1 to 10 °C).
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. schwantesii depends on how quickly the potting mix dries out. It is essential to let the soil dry out between waterings. Stop watering during winter to allow the old leaf pair to dry out and the new pair to develop.
Fertilizing: L. schwantesii does not need to be fertilized. It will thrive without any feeding. If you feed, use a high potassium and low nitrogen levels fertilizer.
Repotting: This small succulent will stay in the same pot for several decades. The common reason for repotting is dividing the plant or allowing space for clusters to grow. Repot only when its growing season starts.
Propagation: L. schwantesii 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 schwantesii
L. schwantesii is non-toxic and safe to have 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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