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Hawortia retusa is a very fine example of a window-leaved Haworthia. It
forms a fat star-like rosette and it's a great plant in the greenhouse
and in the indoor garden.
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Description: Haworthia retusa is a small transluscent rosette
forming succulent and one of the more common species in cultivation.
Most retusas in the field are not prolific and stay solitary or forms
few branched groups. The opposite is true of the nursery bench, where
most plants offered as "retusa" sucker freely and has the ability to
form huge clumps. (These are often not
even H. retusa, but instead are H. turgida) This plant is one of the
most morphologically variable taxon of the genus and comprises many
forms where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with
intermediate characteristics.
Stem: Stemmless.
Rosettes: Star-like, short and plump, individual rosettes
7-10(-12) cm across.
Leaves: About 10 to 15 in basal
rosettes, stubby, turgid, ovate triangular to deltoid, 3-8 long x
1-2 cm wide, lime green to glossy green, brownish-green or rarely with
purplish hue. The terminal end-area is more or less retuse (flat),
horizontal and variously marked with a deeper green translucent areas
and 5-8 paler lime green lines which make them appear as though cast of
green glass. Surface without spines or tubercles. Margins and keel with
or without sparse fine white teeth. Tips bent and pointed with terminal
bristle 3-6 mm long.
Flowers: 20 to 30 tiny, short-lived, flowers appear closely
spaced on a 30 cm long stalks, they are white with greenish-brown veins,
and not especially attractive.
Blooming Time: In late spring to summer. Flower fairly readily
(indoors too), once they're a certain age, and may even flower more than
once in the same year.
Note: Of interest to botanists are the translucent windows that
illuminate the interior photosynthetic areas of the leaves. These are
called "window leaves" and represent a xerophytic adaptation.
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Family:
Asphodelaceae (Aloacee - Liliaceae)
Scientific name:
Haworthia retusa var. retusa (Linné)
Duval
In: Pl. Succ.
Horto Alencon., 7, 1809
Origin:
It is a native
of the Cape Province of South Africa (Cape, Jakkalskop, Riversdale,
Uniondale and Willomore Districts) .
Common English Names include:
Star Cactus,
Window Succulent.
Etymology:
Synonyms:
- Aloe
retusa Linné 1753
-
Catavela retusa (Linné) Medikus 1786
-
Aprica retusa (Linné) Willdenow 1811
-
Haworthia fouchei
-
Haworthia retusa var. solitaria
-
Haworthia solitaria
-
Haworthia multilineata
-
Haworthia retusa var. multilineata,
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Cultivation: Very easy to grow and common. Need regular water,
but
allow the soil
to dry between waterings in the growing season.
Also, it is a species that is dormant in
the winter and require very little water (maybe even none) during the
cold months.
Frost Tolerance: Light frost protection required. Minimum of
5ºC for safe growing (but hardy up to -5°C or less.)
Sun Exposure: Requires light shade to bright light (protect
from strong
midday sun). In shade the body colour will remain mostly green, while full sun will
darken it and give it red/brown body colour. Can be sunburned if moved
from shade/greenhouse into full sun too quickly. The amount of sunlight
it can withstand without scorching depends upon the how hot it becomes
in the summer in the locale in which it is planted. It will have more
colour if it receives more light. During the spring it may be able to
take full sun until the heat arrives at the end of spring. In an area
that has hot afternoon sun, it may be able to take full morning sun, but
requires afternoon shade or afternoon light shade.
Fertilize
monthly with a balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ the strength recommended
on the label. Repot only when the plant has outgrown its pot. Clay pots
are best.
Propagation: Seeds or (usually) offsets that appear at the
base between the
leaves;
The plants
sucker freely and will soon fill up most pots
leave them attached to form a cluster, or wait until they are 1/3 the
size of the parent and then detach and plant.
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