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Haworthia longiana Gamtoos River Valley (very long leaved form)
This is one of the most distinctive Haworthias and one of the most unusual, because it has very long stiff green leaves and is not seen very often in cultivation.
 

Description: Tall stemless grass-like plant that looks like a miniature Agave, slowly forms clumps. It can assume huge proportions by Haworthia standard, but the length and slimness of leaves are quiet variable from plant to plant depending on clone and origin. Some of its forms can be almost unbelievably slow growing, producing no more than one or two leaves a year, and remaining content in a 6 cm pot for decades.
Rosettes: Branching from the base, up to to 5-7 cm in diameter, up to 30 cm tall; up to 30 leaves
Leaves: Bright green to very dark green often red-tipped in bright light. Very upright in orientation, narrowly long, attenuated, firm, rigid , stiff, slightly rough with small raised tubercles (Sometime with white tubercles) and often forming indistinct longitudinal rows. In cultivation like in habitat the leaf tips often die back, this is normal and not a defect of cultivation.
Flowers: Cream white,  born on a  sparcely branced, lax, inflorescences. Flower tube obcapitate and curved, petal tips revolute.

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Scientific name:  Haworthia longiana von Poelnitz
In: Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 41:203. 1937

Origin: Between Hankey and Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa, Altitude 50 - 200 m

Habitat: Grows on stony hill slopes well hidden among sparse shrubs end grasses, but often in full sun, plants are frequently grazed by herbivore animals.

Common English Names include: Long leaved Haworthia

Synonyms:

• Haworthia longiana var. albinota ( von Poelnitz) G.G.Smith.
• Haworthia pumila ssp. longiana ( von Poelnitz) Halda 1997

To look its best it takes many years of tender loving care and understanding making this long leaved Haworthia a great challenge to grow well. Indeed this plant is very rare because it is such a slow grower, or that it offsets only when mature, but most likely is that it is a Haworthia that only a Haworthia aficionado could love.

Cultivation: In cultivation it belongs to more slow-growing species, but when successfully grown, it can be a very nice. Due to its dead leaves tip it's one of those plants which never quite sure whether it's healthy or not, newrthless it can form beautiful groups but to achieve this target they need regular care and good positioning of plants as far as full sun and air circulation are concerned. Provide a very draining soil  (prone to rot). Needs regular water in summer keep dry in winter. Cold hardiness is good down to minus 7° C.
Propagation:  H. longiana can be propagated from offsets (It is a prolific grower and most of the clones offsets when mature).

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.