Veined Haworthia

Veined Haworthia (Haworthiopsis tessellata, still widely sold as Haworthia tessellata) is a small succulent with a pattern most plants cannot match. Each fat triangular leaf carries a fine net of pale veins across a translucent window, and the rosette holds at around 15cm tall and 20cm across. It is slow, tidy, drought proof and safe around pets, one of the easiest plants to keep alive on a desk or windowsill.

Why you'll love it

• Leaves worth looking at closely. The tessellated veining across each leaf is the whole appeal, and it shows clearest in bright light.
• It stays small. At 15cm by 20cm it fits a 100mm pot for years, so a single shelf will hold a collection.
• Safe around cats and dogs. Not toxic, which is rarer among indoor plants than most people expect.
• Almost impossible to underwater. Thick leaves hold weeks of reserve, so a fortnight away costs it nothing.
• It clumps slowly. Offsets form around the base over time and separate into new plants.

Where it works best

Pots and indoors. A shallow 100mm to 150mm pot of gritty mix on a bright windowsill is the classic setting, small enough for a bathroom shelf and slow enough not to outgrow it.

Rockeries and balconies. In subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens it goes outdoors in a gravel pocket or shallow bowl, in morning sun with shade from afternoon heat.

Growing veined haworthia in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light indoors, or filtered light and morning sun outdoors. Full midday sun bleaches the leaves red brown. It takes light frost only, so in cold districts keep it in a pot that can come under cover.

Soil. Cactus and succulent mix, or potting mix cut with coarse sand and gravel. Drainage is the one thing it will not compromise on.

Water and feed. Soak the mix, then let it dry right through: about every two to three weeks in the warm months, and monthly or less in winter. Feed at quarter strength once or twice over spring and summer, no more.

Pruning. None. Pull away dried outer leaves by hand, and lift and divide offsets in spring once the clump crowds its pot.

What to expect when it arrives

Veined Haworthia is sold in 100mm pots in packs of ten, which suits a shelf display, a set of table plants or a run of small pots. Each plant is an established rosette rather than a cutting, ready for a decorative pot.

Succulents are among the best travellers we send: the leaves carry their own water and there is nothing soft to bruise. Leave them dry for a week after unpacking, then water normally. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full succulent range
• Plants that are safe for pets
• Indoor plant tips for beginners
• Small pots that suit a succulent

Common questions

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Haworthias are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this is a sensible choice for a home where a pet might have a chew. Any plant can upset a stomach in quantity, but there is no toxin here.

How often should I water it?

Every two to three weeks in the warm months and closer to monthly in winter, always letting the mix dry right through first. Soft translucent leaves at the base mean too much water, not too little.

Why has it turned reddish?

Too much direct sun. A haworthia in strong light flushes red brown and stops growing. Move it into bright indirect light and the colour returns over a few months.

Does it flower?

Yes, small white flowers on a thin stem well above the rosette, usually in spring. They are modest, and the plant is grown for the leaves.