Gasteria bicolor var. liliputana

RHS Plant Profile

small bi-coloured ox tongue

RHS

Synonyms

Gasteria liliputana

Cactus Succulent Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

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A small perennial succulent, to around 10cm tall and wide, comprising rosettes of white-blotched dark green leaves 3-5cm long and slightly pointed. Flowers stems, up to 15cm tall, bear bell-shaped, orange-green flowers in spring

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0-0.1 metre
Max Height: Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asphodelaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Gasteria are stemless, succulent perennials forming clumps of rosettes of fleshy leaves, often 2-ranked, and racemes of pendulous, tubular flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: S Africa (E Cape)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a standard cactus compost, in full light. Provide low humidity. Water freely when in growth and keep just moist at other times. Apply a dilute, low nitrogen fertiliser fortnightly during late spring and summer. Stand outside in summer. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate from seed, leaf cuttings or by offsets

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free