Haworthia Savanna

Haworthia 'Savanna' (Haworthia hybrid 'Savanna') is the succulent for a desk or windowsill where nothing else survives. Each rosette of stiff, banded leaves reaches about 15cm tall and 20cm across, then slowly offsets into a tidy clump. Unlike most indoor foliage plants, it is not toxic to cats or dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Small enough for anywhere. At 15cm by 20cm it sits on a desk or a bathroom shelf without taking over the room.
• Genuinely pet friendly. Haworthia is not toxic to cats or dogs, so a curious animal taking a bite is a nuisance rather than a worry.
• It prefers being forgotten. The leaves store their own water, so a missed fortnight costs nothing. Overwatering is the reliable way to lose one.
• It clumps rather than sprawls. Offsets form around the parent over a few years, and each can be potted on.

Where it works best

Indoors. A bright spot out of harsh midday sun suits it anywhere in the country, and indoors your climate stops mattering for a plant this frost tender.

Pots and courtyards. A shallow 120mm to 200mm pot with a drainage hole is ideal, and three or five grouped together carry a balcony table.

Rockeries in warm, dry gardens. Outdoors it only works in subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid districts, in gritty soil with shelter from heavy rain.

Growing Haworthia 'Savanna' in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light gives the tightest rosettes and clearest markings; deep shade makes it stretch and pale. It is frost tender, so cool temperate gardens should keep it inside. Heat is no problem, though summer sun through glass scorches the leaf tips.

Soil. A cactus and succulent mix, or standard potting mix opened up with coarse sand. Drainage matters far more than fertility, and the pot must have a hole.

Water and feed. Soak it, tip out the saucer, then let the mix dry right through: about every two to three weeks in the warm months and every five to six in winter. Half strength liquid fertiliser twice over spring and summer is plenty.

Pruning. None needed. Pull away dried lower leaves, cut spent flower stems off at the base, and divide the clump every three or four years once it fills its pot.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in one size, tube stock, and is currently on backorder, so allow time for the next crop. A tube is a young rosette a few centimetres across, ready to pot straight into 120mm or 140mm.

Succulents travel well because the leaves carry their own moisture. Leave yours dry and bright for a week before the first water, and expect two to three years to build a full clump. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive covers the watering and light mistakes behind most failures.
• Browse the wider succulent range.
• See more indoor plants that are safe around pets.
• Finish it with an indoor pot that drains freely.

Common questions

Is Haworthia safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Haworthia is not toxic to cats or dogs, which is unusual among popular indoor plants. A chewed leaf may upset a small stomach, but no toxin is involved.

How do I know when to water it?

Only when the mix is dry all the way through, roughly every two to three weeks in summer and much less in winter. Soft, translucent lower leaves mean too much water, not too little.

Will it grow in a dim room?

It survives low light but does not thrive. The rosette stretches, the banding fades and growth almost stops, so give it the brightest spot that avoids hot direct sun.