They go by several popular names: living stones, living pebbles, pebble plants among others. More scientifically, they’re all various species from the genus Lithops. These tiny succulent plants do in fact look like living stones, and they’re becoming increasingly popular as indoor plants for home and office to the point of being an home décor trend. Indoor design considerations aside, these are very cool plants and can be a really fun addition to indoor garden spaces. So let’s dig in and learn a bit more about Lithops and how we can incorporate them into our garden spaces.
Gardzen Executive Summary
· Lithops spp, also known as ‘living stones” or “pebble plants” among other names, are a genus of small succulent native to the very southern parts of Africa.
· Coming from a dry, rocky environment, Lithops evolved to resemble small stones.
· This evolutionary path created a variety of Lithops species with distinct colors and shapes, some of which are quite beautiful and all of which are fascinating to grow.
· Lithops plants do flower, and many of the species produce daisy-like blossoms under the right growing conditions.
· Lithops have become a popular container plant and do quite well in many indoor spaces although getting them to flower can require a bit of work.
The Origins and Evolution of Lithops
We’ve written before about how the scientific names of plants may give us clues to their origins and how they grow. Lithops is a good example of this; the name derives from the Ancient Greek works for ‘stone’ (lithos) and ‘like/resembling’ (ópsis). So the name “Lithops” roughly means “stone-like”, and resonates with the popular names like living stones or living pebbles. Though we do want to remind everyone that these are living things, not rocks, and they do require a level of care and tending like any other plant.
Most Lithops species are comprised of pairs of bulbous, closely connected leaves. The leaves are difficutl to distiguish as leaves; they look more like a flower bud or (wait for it) a cluster of stones or pebbles. Shape and color vary depending on the speices, but in most Lithops species the majority of the plant lives beneath the soil in order to conserve moisture in its native arid environment. Light reaches the underground portions of the leaves through a transluscent outer layer called a leaf window. This allows the plant to gather enough light to sustain itself while not losing too much water to evaporation.
This clever evolutionary design is why Lithops has its distict look, and why it can thrive in the dry, dester regions of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. It’s als why they’re such a fasciantion to some indoor gardeners and houseplant enthusiasts. There are over 100 cultivars of Lithops recongized by gardening and plant authorities, many of which have unique and strikingly beautiful forms that add a lovely touch to indoor decor and indoor garden spaces.
Growing and Caring for Lithops at Home
It’s absolutely possible to grow Lithops from seeds or cuttings, and many people do just that. Both seeds and cuttings for various Lithops species are available either online or via nurseries and plant businesses that specialize in succulents. However, we most often see Lithops for sale fully grown as a container plant, and we suspect that how most of them find their way into homes, offices, and other indoor spaces that could benefit from a bit of plant life and botanical beauty.
We’ll say it again, as gently as we can: Lithops plants are often sold as “living rocks” but they’re not rocks. They are plants, living creatures that require and deserve care and attention. As succulents, they’re fairly hardy and the care of most Lithops species is fairly straightforward but please remember that they are alive before bringing them home or giving them as a gift.
So how do we care for Lithops in our home gardens? As with all plants, the first thing is creating proper growing conditions. As desert plants, Lithops need bright, direct light. During the spring and autumn seasons, they do require thorough and regular watering, but remember to allow the surface to dry out before watering again—these are desert plants! They like a sandy soil, with good drainage and a minimum of organic matter so that they roots don’t become water-logged and start to rot. Any potting mix intended for cacti or succulents should be fine for Lithops. Likewise a little fertilizers low in nitrogen and relatively high in potassium is all that’s needed; fertilize in spring and fall for best results. The idea is to create growing conditions that mimic the plant’s natural summers: hot dry summers, cool dry winters, and seasonal rains in spring and fall. Temperatures should be kept above 50F/10C, but these plants tolerate heat very well.
As always, we recommend talking to a knowledgeable person about the particular varietal of Lithops you add to your garden. A specialist from a succulent focused nursery, a garden club, or your local cooperative extension will be able to give you advice tailored to your plant and your needs. We do our best with these blogs but they’re general advice and everyone’s garden space and garden needs are unique.
The Wonderful World of Living Rocks
Lithops are unique both in their shape and growing patters and their origins. They’re very popular right now as decorative items, and they do add something unique and special to any space. We hope this blog helps you appreciate these plants as the wonderful life forms that they are and as a reminder of how adaptive plants can be. If you’re growing some Lithops at home, please end pics! Gardzen is all about community and we love to hear from you especially when you’re sharing pics of your garden spaces!
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