Haworthia truncata

Haworthia truncata, Horse Teeth Plant, is the perfect houseplant: a small South African xerophyte with a unique arrangement of distichous succulent leaves that have a translucent upper surface - a window - for letting in light. In their natural habitat in the valley of the Little Karoo, Haworthia truncata pulls itself down into the gritty mineralised soil to give it protection from the high solar radiation and the heat and to conserve water and reduce desiccation. The upper surfaces of the truncated leaves - resembling the pattern of horse's teeth - have no stomata thus reducing transpiration. These upper surfaces are usually all that shows above ground, the epidermal windows letting in sunlight to the internal leaf surfaces where photosynthesis occurs. This subterranean habit can be reproduced In cultivation - or if preferred, in the less harsh environment of your home - it can be grown with more of the succulent leaves on display.

All that Haworthia truncata requires is a gritty, free-draining substrate with a well-lit aspect and modest watering throughout the growing season. Keep dryish during the winter. It reallly is a very easy plant to grow, making a wonderful houseplant and with its own unique story makes a perfect gift to inspire a love of nature and the study of plants and their importance in the world.