20+ Mesmerizing Haworthia Types to Make Your Home Look More Exotic

Haworthias are bold. Haworthias are fearless. Haworthia types are low-maintenance plants that perform well in regular household environments.

Care guide highlights: Haworthia plants require partial shade to grow and maintain green color, long with very well-drained soil. They turn orange or red in full sun and tend to grow more slowly than in the shade. Keep them dry in the winter. Propagate by seed or division in spring.

Continue reading to learn about 20+ different Haworthia types!

Introducing the Haworthia genus

The family Asphodelaceae or Liliaceae consists of perennial, clump-forming, and basal-rosette plants with triangular or rounded green leaves and distinctive margins. Some varieties have teeth along the leaf edges. 

The Haworthia genus is a small genus of plants native to desert and mountain areas in South Africa that are usually 10-15 cm tall. They grow under bushes in the wild, seeking shade from the fierce sun.

That’s why they make ideal windowsill plants and less sunny spots as in greenhouses, where they will receive only one hour of direct sun each day.  They form starlike rosettes with white inconspicuous flowers.

Haworthia Types vs Aloe vs Agave

Can you distinguish the Haworthia genus from Aloe or Agave? All three genera are succulent, but how do they differ?

Visually, aloes and agaves look fairly similar to the untrained eye. They both fall into the category of succulents that form rosettes. Some would say that aloes are basically agaves without weapons. Or, at least, they don’t have that strong teeth or spikes. So, aloes are considered safer. However, they belong to different families and their blooms are different.

Haworthia and aloe have similar-looking stems, but the foliage of haworthias is usually more pointed, deeper green with intense white encrustations running horizontally. Haworthia species usually have rusty tips and form tight rosettes, while other species can have flat leaf tops.

Aloe Vera plant can sometimes look totally different than the usual aloe type, such as Aloe variegata, differently called Tiger Aloe. There is also one species called Aloe haworthioides or Haworthia-leaved Aloe whose spines give it an almost fuzzy look, but the spines are sharper than the usual ones. It resembles the Haworthia family more than the Aloe family, so that might cause confusion.

Though slightly different in appearance, the three plants make good companions because they have similar care requirements and all of them are slow-growing plants.

20+ Adorable Haworthia Species

Haworthia attenuata “Striata“

Haworthia attenuata is perhaps the most common of all Haworthia types and is very easily grown. This clump-forming perennial succulent makes a lovely windowsill container display with its spiky, upright, fleshy stems, pointed edges, and white horizontal stripes, adding to its rich texture. Long, tubular and white flowers with spreading petals may appear on mature plants from spring to fall.

Height: It can achieve a height of 7 cm and spread up to 25 cm. 

Temperature: The minimum temperature should be kept above 5 degrees C

Watering: Since the leaves are stiff, the plant will survive a long time without water. But give more liberal amounts of water in summer and autumn, allowing the top to dry out between waterings. Water sparingly in winter, just to prevent the soil from drying out completely.

Soil: cactus compost or a soil-based potting compost and horticultural grit

Care tip: Set in filtered light close to a windowsill. Repot every 3 years in spring, when root-bound.

Haworthia setata

These Haworthia types form leaf rosettes that barely reach 5-10 cm across. The leaves have soft, white, and transparent hairs on the edges.

There are several varieties of this one, varying in the size of rosettes, density, and length of the leaf hairs. It is a difficult, prized species, plus a tricky one to propagate and therefore rarely seen in collections.

Care tip: It comes from the Cape Province, from dry regions, so it requires a very well-drained mix, careful watering, and winter temperatures above 12 degrees C. In the hottest days of summer, it does better in partial shade.

Haworthia coarctata

The overall appearance of these Haworthia types resembles a hand clenched in a fist. It has prominent, reddish claws and leaves that form tight clusters. It can turn pink in the cold or with enough light and it produces offsets easily. Haworthia coarctata also has white horizontal stripes on otherwise deep green leaves. Worth adding is that this plant is now known by other name- Haworthiopsis coarctata.

Height: It can achieve a height of 30 cm.

Watering: Average, when the compost is dry. Water minimally in the winter.

Soil: Cactus compost soil

Care tip: Place in full sun to partial shade. The minimum temperature should be 25 degrees F.

Haworthia concolor

The leaves of these Haworthia types resemble tiny cucumbers ready to be picked for making prickles. The texture is similar to other haworthias, but the difference is in the markings. This one has rather dots than lines.

Height: It can achieve a height of 15 cm.

Watering: Average, once the compost is relatively dry.

Soil: Cactus compost.

Care tip: Some place with full sun and partial shade is ideal for this Haworthia species, with the minimum temperature of 20 degrees F.

Haworthia fasciata

Otherwise called the Zebra Plant, it is one of the most popular plants in the Haworthia genus. It features green triangular leaves arranged in a rosette with white raised dots or stripes, mostly in bands and on undersides, and pointed tips, making it striking and bold in any arrangement. White flowers are also a common sight on this Haworthia species.

Besides, it is tolerant of low light levels and doesn’t require much water, so it is great for beginners and indoor cultivation. It is hardy and thrives in zone 9b, up to 25 degrees F. Haworthia Fasciata has small, 7 cm rosettes of horizontally striped leaves. The flowers of these Haworthia types are inconspicuous and whitish as with other species.

Height: It is an extremely variable and slow-growing perennial succulent that matures to be 10 cm tall and 30 cm long.

Watering: It doesn’t require a lot of water. Allow the soil to become dry, then water.

Soil: Cactus compost, very humusy, with sand

Care tip: This plant is easy to cultivate. Choose light shade, with temps around 10-21 degrees C. Fertilizing is unnecessary.

Haworthia reinwardtii

This is an elegant, compact and short plant that clumps easily and creates tight and compact pointed forms. The leaves of these Haworthia types are deep green and hard with a white pattern. Choose a bright-colored pot and decorate the top of the soil with some stones. If the leaves spread out, the plant is lacking sunlight.

Watering: Average, once the compost feels dry to the touch.

Soil: Cacti compost

Care tip: Keep it in partial shade and don’t fertilize too much.

Haworthia retusa

Haworthia retusa or the Star Cactus has pale green, almost translucent, fleshy leaves that are clumped together and resemble stars. These Haworthia types looks best when potted in a rectangular pot filled with tiny decorative stones.

Light: It tolerates low light and does well indoors.

Watering: Average. Allow the compost to dry out between watering.

Soil: Cactus, well-draining soil.

Care tip: Light to partial shade. No fertilizing is required.

Haworthia correcta

Now, this is a spectacular presence. Various patterns and shapes can be seen on the surface of the leaves of these Haworthia types. The lens is large and the veins unique.

This plant is a slow-growing plant influenced tremendously by sunlight. If it is too strong, the plant will turn brown. Too weak, and it will stretch upward, creating gaps between the robust leaves.

Care tip: Follow the same requirements as with other species- well-drained soil, a bright spot and careful watering.

Haworthia obtusa

This one is very different from other succulents, so it is easier to manage if grouped with other haworthias.

What makes it popular is the beautiful transparent lens on the leaves that resemble drops of water. When it has grown to about 10 cm in diameter, these Haworthia types will start growing pups in a cluster.

Care tip: Find partial shade, be careful with watering and opt for porous, well-drained soil.

Haworthia arachnoidea v.gigas

This is a slow-growing and clump-forming perennial succulent whose body is covered with plastic-like hair, forming a basal rosette of triangular leaves. They clump inwards with soft, white teeth along the margins. The plant produces white flowers in the summer.

Height: It can achieve a height of 5 cm and spread to 10 cm.

Temperature: Keep the minimum temperature at 6 degrees C.

Care tip: Do not let it dehydrate and avoid strong sunlight.

Haworthia cv.“Kegani“

The leaves of these Haworthia types have a fuzzy feel similar to that of a hairbrush and they grow in two panned-out rows in younger plants. It is extremely vulnerable to sunburn, so avoid direct sunlight.

Care tip: Provide partial shade and water moderately.

Haworthia truncata

This one got the nickname “Horse’s teeth“ because the leaves grow in such a way that they look as if snapped or cut. Haworthia truncata is a tender and exotic, clump-forming succulent with a basal fan of rough, blue-gray leaves with pale gray lines and flat ends. The top surface of the leaves is a lens that absorbs light. These Haworthia types produces white flowers as well.

It comes from the sandy parts of the Cape Province and it is widely sought-after yet a bit more difficult to grow. This one can be extremely expensive depending on the pattern of the lens and extremely sensitive to sunburn, so be careful in the summer.

Height: It can achieve a height of only 2 cm, and spread to 10 cm.

Temperature: Keep the winter minimum above 5 degrees C.

Care tip: It requires careful watering, porous sandy compost, and a dry spot in the winter. As if that’s not enough, it can only be propagated from seeds.

Haworthia cuspidata

This is a perennial succulent that can grow 5 cm tall and spread to 25 cm. It features a basal rosette of smooth and rounded, fleshy, green leaves covered with translucent marks. Moreover, it bears white flowers on slender stems.  These Haworthia types grow well in zones 13-15.

Haworthia emelyae

This Haworthia species has a lot of synonyms, some of which are Haworthia picta and Haworthia marxii. There are some subspecies of this plant, such as H. emelyae var. comptoniana, H.emelyae var. major, and H. emelyae var. multifolia.

It is a slow-growing perennial plant that has solitary, triangular, fleshy brownish-green leaves with pale spots.

Like other varieties, this one has white flowers that grow on somewhat long stems.

Care tip: Water just enough to keep the plant alive in the summer months. Water more frequently from fall to spring. Protect this species from the hot rays of the sun by letting it thrive in partial shade. It performs well in zones 10-11. Well-drained soil is a must.  Repot using fresh soil every three years.  Although it does not require much fertilizing, you can still use a diluted fertilizer for this Haworthia species once during the growing season.

Haworthia limifolia

This is a slow-growing, flowering, and short cacti succulent with fleshy, green leaves that have a unique texture arranged in a rosette. Haworthia limifolia resembles a washboard, so it got the nickname Fairy Washboard.

Care tip: Well-drained soil, such as a combination of soil and fine sand is the best choice for this one. Allow it to dry out before re-watering. Use a shallow pot. Provide bright light beside a windowsill. Don’t keep it entirely in the shade. Water the plant once a week.

Haworthia maughanii

This is a miniature Haworthia species from South Africa.  It grows virtually buried in the sand. It has fleshy, cylindrical leaves that lie at ground level with flat, blunt ends in green color. The leaves contain transparent water-holding tissue that allows the sun rays to penetrate inside the leaves. So they serve as “windows into the sand“. In that way, they can obtain nourishment even when they are hidden from the sun. 

This one tends to have thicker and more tuberous root systems than other varieties. Choose a small pot if you are starting it from the seeds and soil that contains loam, pumice, and lava rock. This is going to be its home for two years. Decorate the top with some stones. Propagate by seed, offsets or leaves.

It is still a widely sought-after species with a high potential for hybridization.

Haworthia bolusii

This is another stemless Haworthia types that has fleshy, incurved, pale green leaves with long and fibrous bristles that enclose the plant-this is evocative of a spider’s web.

Care tip: Bright area protected from the hot rays, but don’t put it entirely in the shade either. Well-draining soil, temperature above 10 degrees C, water thoroughly in the active growing period, and cut back on watering in the winter. Fertilizing isn’t necessary.

Haworthia mirabilis

This variety is slightly different than other species. It is less spiky and less bold in terms of color.  Rather, it is pale green, chunky, and short. The leaves are tightly packed together, forming a rosette. The top looks glossy and almost translucent. It is ideal for a shallow, decorative pot with stones on top.

Haworthia nigra

Emerging from the center of this slow-growing plant are stiff deep green leaves that fold backward. New ones form one atop the other, giving them an unusual look. Mature plants produce upright stems with small white flowers. It thrives in zones 10-11.

Care tip: Keep temperatures above 10 degrees C. Excessive watering is the most dangerous risk if keeping any haworthia.

Haworthia marumiana

This is a tiny, stemless clump-forming species that has soft, lime green leaves with soft spines along the edges. The leaves turn purplish in the sun. The leaf tips are longer and thinner than other species. When set against the sun, the leaf patterns look so interesting, as if adorned with creme sports.

It thrives in zones 10-11, ideally at 10 degrees C. These small plants of up to 12 cm tall are ideal for shallow decorative containers like teacups with adequate drainage.

Haworthia tortusa

This is another widely distributed Haworthia types that comes in many forms and varieties. It is considered to be a hybrid because the individual species of the genus Haworthia hybridize easily and readily, even with related genera.

The rosettes consist of spirally arranged green and broadly triangular leaves. Cultivation of these Haworthia types is easy, the plant tolerating semi-shade and full shade alike.

Haworthia arachnoidea

This species somewhat resembles echeveria. It has lime green to green leaves arranged in a rosette that has short teeth along the edges-very flattering. It needs time to fully form, but once it does, it is a marvelous sight.

Care tip: A mix of compost, grit, pumice, lava rock. Don’t water for about a week before repotting if you are transplanting in the cooler months. Remove some dried leaves as well. Repotting is a good time to check on the pests too, especially mealybugs. With this one, you can let the roots soak in a little bit in warm water for 10 minutes to remove any salt and relaxes the roots. And let them dry for an hour, then pot up.

Haworthia Cymbiformis

Haworthia Cymbiformis is also known as Cathedral Window Haworthia, Window Boats, Window Haworthia, Windowed Boats and Window-Formed Haworthia. That’s because the rosette formed from its leaves resembles the rosette typically found in cathedral windows, while the boat refers to the shape of its foliage.

Haworthia Cooperi

This translucent green beauty of extraordinary appearance captures the attention instantly. Despite its out-of-this-world look, it’s not a tricky one to maintain. Haworthia Cooperi is rather tolerant to all sorts of conditions, but it appreciates well-balanced environment and consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Many Haworthia types like Haworthia fasciata are virtually indestructible. They are easily cultivated indoors, in the same environment that suits human beings.

Besides, they are exceptionally attractive and add excitement and boldness, so they appeal to virtually everybody. Provided the status quo and they won’t trouble you at all with any pests or diseases. A bright spot infrequent watering and that’s all there is to it. 

Which Haworthia types you like the most? Hit the comments section below, I’d like to hear from you.