Types of Gasteria: Varieties, ID, And Photos

Gasteria plants are very popular houseplants for their cheerful and exotic appearance. However, despite being fairly easy to care for, they require a lot of attention in order to be successful at looking good. You will soon discover there’s much more to this type of plant than meets the eye. Gasteria succulents make for unusual additions to the décor. And that’s a good thing!

Most types of Gasteria succulent plants are extremely suited for indoor cultivation. In their native habitats, they are used to growing in low light conditions, which makes them perfect as indoor houseplants. And, like most succulents, their care needs are practically non-existent.

This article will cover everything there is to know about Gasteria types, their varieties, their care requirements, and their uses, with some interesting facts thrown in for good measure.

About Gasteria

Gasteria is a genus of succulent plants in the subfamily Asphodeloideae, which is part of the family Asphodelaceae. These succulent plants are endemic to South Africa and Namibia.

There are about 29 accepted Gasteria species, but this number is often in flux since none of the experts seem to agree on a final classification. But that’s science for you; no progress without challenging the established. This major succulent group is quite popular in cultivation.

Etymology

The genus name Gasteria is derived from the Greek word “gaster,” meaning “stomach.” This is a reference to the shape of its flowers, which look like a stomach when observed from afar.

Gasteria succulent plants are also commonly known as Cow’s Tongue Plants or Ox Tongue Plants because of their roughly textured, cow tongue-like leaves.

Taxonomy

The Gasteria genus is currently placed in the subfamily Asphodeloideae and the family Asphodelaceae, which contains about 30 genera of succulent plants. Gasteria is most closely related to Aloe and Haworthia.

Classifying Gasteria is a practice of futility. Most Gasteria types are highly variable, and some separate species flow into each other at the drop of a hat. No two specimens are quite alike, even though they belong to the same species. Many Gasteria types are known to hybridize with Aloes and Haworthia plants that naturally overlap in their native habitat, resulting in quite a lot of confusion. Despite significant scientific advancements, there’s no wonder why there is still so much debate about the correct classification of Gasteria.

To combat this mass misinformation, experts have devised two methods; taxonomy by flower morphology and taxonomy by genome count.

Habitat

The Gasteria genus is found in a small area of the world. In South Africa, Gasteria can be found in the Eastern Cape Province and the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and the Free State. The Eastern Cape has the largest density of Gasteria succulent plants to its name, but some varieties are also found in the Western Cape province (e.g., Gasteria disticha). They are also found in some parts of Namibia.

If you zoom out, you can see that the preferred habitat of the Gasteria species is found along the border of South Africa, which extends from one end to the other in a neat horseshoe pattern. This area consists of mostly coastal regions of low altitudes and constant rainfall.

The Gasteria genus is known to grow in rocky outcrops and on cliff faces. They are often found clinging to rocks in shady or semi-shady areas where they get dappled sunlight at best.

What Is Gasteria Used For?

Ornamental Houseplants

Gasteria succulent plants have a history of being used as exotic indoor or outdoor houseplants. They have been gracing the gardens of enthusiasts since the 1800s. They are often featured in rockeries, waterscapes, or xeric gardens.

Despite being somewhat rare (a thing of the past), they’re widespread in cultivation and nurseries. If you’re looking for one, you can easily find one at your local garden store.

Indoors, they make for unusual décor. They make for beautiful potted plants, and since they don’t tend to grow too big, you can get away with a smaller pot. Unlike most other succulents, most types of Gasteria have adapted to thrive in low light conditions. You can reserve the sunny spot for a more demanding plant and get double the value.

Traditional Medicine

Some Gasteria types are used medicinally by the indigenous people of South Africa, where they have been used to medically treat a plethora of ailments such as burns, wounds, stomach problems, and even scorpion stings.

Most notably, making herbal tea with Gasteria croucheri has been a longstanding African tradition. It has been serving the natives as a blood purifier, emetic, purgative, tonic wash, vomit inducer, and herbal medicine for skin problems such as ringworm, skin rash, warts, diarrhea, hysteria, paralysis, and rheumatism for centuries. Here’s an in-depth study into its potential; the results speak for themselves.

Additionally, Gasteria bicolor has known antifungal properties.

Hybrids with Aloes and Haworthia

Gasteria is very closely related to both Aloes and Haworthias. The three of them belong to the same tribe; Aloeae. They share many physical characteristics and often grow in the same habitat. As a result, Gasteria hybridization with Aloes and Haworthias is quite common in nature.

In terms of cultivation, Gasteria hybrids are just as easy to care for as the parent plant. They have the best of both and make for beautiful pot plants. As a result, an uncountable number of hybrids from the same plant family, most unnamed, are widespread in the cultivation world. xGasteraloe refers to a cross between Gasteria and Aloes, and ×Gasterhaworthia refers to a cross with Haworthia plants.

How to Identify a Gasteria Species?

Individual Gasteria species are hard to differentiate from one another, yes. But as a whole? Surprisingly easy. Young specimens are easier to identify than older ones since they tend to exhibit the rare distichous growing habit that makes them easily stand out from a crowd of succulent plants.

Looking at a succulent plant and wondering how to tell whether it belongs to the Gasteria genus or not? Here’s what to look for:

Leaves:

Gasteria succulent plants have thick, fleshy, triangular, or oblong leaves. Their tips might or might not taper into a sharp point.

The leaves are often mottled or spotted with bands of white spots. These spots can be raised or flush with the surface. The surface is often rough and textured but sometimes glossy as well. Usually, if you see a leaf surface that heavily resembles a cow’s tongue with raised tubercles and a flat, oblong shape, it’s probably one of the Gasteria types.

Gasteria leaves grow in a distichous pattern, which means that each leaf comes in a pair that is arranged diametrically opposed to it from a basal base. They form two vertical rows with one opposing pair. Young plants almost always only have one pair of leaves, which has a distinct enough look that makes them easy to identify. Mature plants develop more and more leaf pairs that eventually may or may not result in a rosette form. That’s why juvenile plants are easier to identify than mature ones.

Flowers:

The Gasteria flower is unique. It’s tube-shaped, but the part close to the stalk flares into a bulbous shape that tapers to a thin point as it grows. This transition from bulbous to thin is often accompanied by a recurve that results in a stomach-like shape.

These flowers are nectar-rich and are often pollinated by flies which enter the flowers in search of nectar and get dusted with pollen in the process.

These flowers appear on tall stalks, often pendant but sometimes erect. These stalks can be branching or solitary, depending on the Gasteria types. Each individual flower appears separately, not in a cluster, along the length of the raceme or inflorescence. Flowers are usually two-toned; the bulbous part is usually red, orange, or pink, and the tapering part is usually green or white.

Gasteria Species Photo Gallery

How To Care For Gasteria Plants

What makes so many Gasteria types suitable as houseplants? It’s actually pretty simple: they’re among the easiest houseplants to care for. And they look exotic enough to make caring for them worth it.

Gasteria plants are quite versatile, which is why they’re so popular as houseplants. Their architectural form gives them a special character and makes them suitable for interior decors or outdoor settings that are close to nature, such as yards or balconies.

Gasterias are easy to grow, pleasant to look at, and not fussy about soil, light, or temperature. All in all, they’re fairly easy to care for as long as you follow the basic rules. Here are the most important ones:

Light:

Gasterias enjoy bright light but can also tolerate lower light conditions. They will, however, start to stretch if they don’t get enough light.

What makes Gasteria special among other succulent plants is their ability or willingness to forgo a good amount of sunlight for shade and still be perfectly fine. However, if you want your Gasteria to grow into its best self and showcase its beauty to the fullest, a fair amount of sunlight is needed.

Don’t get me wrong; most Gasteria types will remain perfectly healthy and happy even in perpetual shade. But they’ll etiolate, become leggy, and in general not as rightly put together as they could otherwise be in a sunnier setting. Give your Gasteria a good amount of light every day, around 4 hours or so, and you’ll gasp in wonder at the results.

Soil:

Gasterias grow well in light, well-drained soils. A good potting mix for Gasteria would be two parts of a coarse-grained potting mix such as perlite or pumice and one part of a humus-rich potting mix such as sphagnum peat moss. This will give your Gasteria the perfect drainage it needs to stay healthy while also providing it with all the necessary nutrients.

A store-bought succulent or cactus mix will also work fine if you feel unsure about mixing your own soil. Remember, as long as the soil drains well; all else can be forgiven.

If you’re planning on planting your Gasteria outdoors, try to raise the garden bed slightly and use sandy soils to promote drainage.

Water:

Gasterias are drought-tolerant plants that can go for long periods of time without water. They store water in their leaves, which is why they have that fleshiness in their leaves and roots.

This means that Gasteria types don’t need to be watered as often as other houseplants. When you do water, ensure a thorough soaking of the soil before putting the plant back in its place.

A common mistake gardeners make is they think because the plant is succulent and it doesn’t need much water, we’ll skimp out on the water in the watering session and give a light sprinkle to keep things going. This is not the way. Deep watering is essential for the water to reach every possible plant surface, and the fast drainage ensures it leaves just as quickly.

During the winter months, most (not all) Gasteria types will enter a period of dormancy during which they won’t need to be watered as often. Once every 3-4 weeks should suffice.

Temperature:

Gasterias are not particularly frost-hardy and should be kept safe from temperatures below 10°C (50°F). They like a slight chill in the air when it gets to winter but nothing below freezing.

In summer, most Gasteria types prefer warmer weather. They can tolerate a maximum of 100°F, but any more than that require good ventilation and more water.

If you’re growing Gasteria outdoors, make sure to choose a spot that’s sheltered from the wind, as the plant can’t tolerate drafts either.

Fertilizer:

Gasterias are not heavy feeders and don’t need a lot of fertilizer to stay healthy. A light feeding every other month during their growing season is more than enough.

If you want to give your Gasteria a little extra something, try using a succulent or cactus fertilizer that’s diluted to half the recommended strength. This will give your plant the nutrients it needs without overdoing it and harming the roots. Just remember that you don’t have to fertilize if you prefer not to.

Propagation:

Gasteria can be propagated from cuttings (leaves and stems), offsets (pups), or seeds.

Cuttings:

Like most succulents, Gasteria can be easily propagated from leaf or stem cuttings.

To propagate from leaf cuttings:

1. Simply cut off a healthy leaf at the base and allow it to callus over for a few hours.
2. Once the cut end is dry, you can plant it in well-draining soil and water it lightly.
3. Leaf cuttings will eventually produce new roots and start growing into a new plant.

To propagate from a stem cutting:

1. Cut off a section of the stem with at least 2 leaves.
2. Like the leaves, allow the end to callus over for a bit and plant it in fast-draining soil.
3. Water lightly and wait for new roots and growth to appear.

Offsets:

Some Gasteria types will sometimes produce small offsets or pups at the base of the plant. These can be carefully removed and replanted to create new plants.

To do this, remove the offset from the parent plant by making a clean cut. The hard part is removing the offset safely because, in the case of Gasteria, these offsets are often basally rooted, and you have to remove the entire plant from the pot to remove them entirely. Repotting is the ideal time to take offsets.

Once your pups are separated from the parent plants, the rest of the process is identical to cuttings.

Seeds:

Some Gasteria types can also be propagated from seeds, but they’re not the easiest plant to grow.

1. Sow the seeds in well-draining soil and keep slightly moist (not wet) until they germinate.
2. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
3. Once the seedlings have emerged, they should be given plenty of bright light and good humidity and allowed to dry out between waterings.

Since Gasterias are slow growers, it will be quite some time before they’re big enough to be transplanted into their own pots.

Potting and Repotting:

Gasterias are slow growers, but they will eventually need to be repotted as they outgrow their current pots or if the potting mix has degraded and needs to be replaced. The best time to do this is in the spring before they start actively growing again.

When repotting, Gasterias should be moved into a pot that’s only slightly larger than the previous one. They don’t like being transplanted too often and prefer to stay snug in their pots.

Make sure to use a well-draining succulent or cactus mix and a pot with drainage holes. A clay pot is ideal because it will help keep the roots cooler and improve drainage. Repotting is also the ideal time to take offsets for propagation.

Common Gasteria Problems:

Most Gasteria types are easygoing plants that are relatively problem free. However, some problems might occur from time to time.

Pests:

Gasterias are relatively resistant to pests but can be susceptible to mealybugs. These pests will usually only attack Gasterias that are already stressed or unhealthy, so it’s important to keep checking your plant for pests and address any problems as soon as possible.

The best way to get rid of pests is to physically remove them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. An insecticidal soap or neem oil solution also works wonders.

Diseases:

Root rot is a serious issue that can quickly kill a Gasteria, so it’s important to catch it early and take action to save the plant.

The best way to prevent root rot is to make sure the plant is always in well-draining soil and never sits in the water. If you think your Gasteria has root rot, you can try repotting it in fresh, dry soil. However, if the roots are too far gone, the plant will likely not recover.

Fungal infection can also cause Gasterias to develop black or brown spots on their leaves. These spots are usually harmless but can be unsightly. Luckily, they spread slowly, and if you want to get rid of them, you can carefully remove the affected leaves.

Are Gasteria Plants Toxic?

Gasteria plants are not toxic to humans or animals. However, it’s still in your best interest to keep them out of reach of curious little hands and mouths for the safety of the plants. But if an accident does occur, no harm is done.

Popular Gasteria Types For Indoors

Gasteria rawlinsonii (Baviaanskloof Cliff Gasteria)

Gasteria rawlinsonii is a unique Gasteria succulent popular in cultivation. It is native to South Africa, where it is known only from the Baviaanskloof Mountains in the Eastern Cape.

Gasteria rawlinsonii is a succulent perennial herb with strap-shaped, succulent leaves up to 40 cm long and 8 cm wide. It is incredibly long-lasting and is considered among the more exotic-looking Gasteria species.

The long, narrow leaves are arranged symmetrically, appearing opposite to each other on the erect branch. They form a tight spiral that gets quite top-heavy as the plant ages, requiring some counterbalance at the bottom. The leaves are also known to have small black teeth along the margins, which is uncharacteristic of the Gasteria species.

Gasteria rawlinsonii stems are colored red and contrast nicely with the greens of the leaves. The same stems extend upward when the spring season rolls around, bearing clusters of pink flowers on its tip. These inflorescences can get quite long relative to the size of the rest of the plant, sometimes almost double the size of the entire plant.

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Mature Size: 1-2 feet
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Gasteria armstrongii (Cow Tongue)

Gasteria armstrongii, more accurately known as (Gasteria nitida var. armstrongii), is a dwarf rosette-forming succulent. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is known to grow only in the Eastern Cape.

Gasteria armstrongii leaves resemble a cow’s tongue, hence the name. They’re incredibly thick and have a rough surface like that of a cow tongue. Other than the dark green, the almost black color of the leaves, the rest looks like it comes straight out of a Cow’s mouth. They even have a depression in the middle of the leaves, making the overall shape slightly concave, just like a cow tongue.

They are arranged in a small mound or rosette with two or four succulent leaves. In full sun, the dull green leaves blush a slight red, but this effect is barely visible. Gasteria armstrongii remains quite small throughout its lifetime, making this plant perfect as a desktop feature or a windowsill plant.

The rosette isn’t supported by any stems; it grows quite close to ground level. In fact, in their native habitat, these plants are often overrun by soil since they grow so close to the ground.

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Mature Size: 6-12 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 30°F (-1.1°C)

Gasteria polita (Polished Gasteria)

The Gasteria polita is a small succulent that is perfect for container gardens. It has beautiful, glossy, succulent leaves that have a mottled appearance. It is native to the Western Cape of South Africa and grows in forests.

It is a relatively new discovery and hasn’t really had a chance to showcase its beauty in a garden setting. This is a definite choice if you’re looking for a truly unique succulent for your garden.

It’s an evergreen perennial that forms rosettes of dark green leaves with a glossy sheen. The leaf blades are thick and fleshy, up to 8 inches (20 cm) long. They’re lance-shaped with dense white spots arranged in bands and with rounded margins. The surface of the leaves appears with a distinct sheen that resembles a polished surface, hence the name.

Gasteria polita flowers appear in the summer on top of tall inflorescences. These stalks sometimes branch, sometimes don’t, and get quite tall as well.

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Mature Size: 8-12 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 30°F (-1.1°C)

Gasteria glomerata (Kouga Gasteria)

The Kouga Gasteria (Gasteria glomerata) is a South African native that gets its common name from the Kouga River, where it’s found in abundance. It’s a small, slow-growing succulent with short, thick, strap-shaped leaves that can reach up to 8 inches (20 cm) long.

The succulent leaves are arranged in pairs opposite each other. They are grey-green in color and recurve slightly at their apex. They also have a rough texture you can feel with your fingers.

The flowers are white and borne on tall pendant stalks. They’re orange with a green tip, weighing down the raceme when they appear, so it tilts downward under their weight. The flowers are the heroes of the show when they appear in the summer or spring.

The small and fat leaves look pretty sitting on a windowsill, but when the flowers arrive, the effect multiplies manyfold. The long raceme manages to take gardeners by surprise even when you’re expecting it.

• Light: Light shade
• Mature Size: 6-8 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Gasteria pulchra

The Gasteria pulchra is a small succulent plant that is native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa. This is a popular potted plant to be used in gardens owing to the upright growing habit that doesn’t take up a lot of lateral space despite it being technically classified as a shrub.

This particular plant is usually stemless, but in some varieties, a solitary stem does appear, but never in cultivation. Gasteria pulchra has long, fleshy, succulent leaves that are mottled white spots and taper to a sharp point near the tip. The degree of the marbling tends to vary between varieties (this is a highly variable plant), but in general, you can at least expect some white spots on the dark green leaves. Usually, the leaves grow completely upright, never reaching beyond the confines of a pot.

Sometimes, Gasteria pulchra plants have been known to form clumps or offsets. But this behavior is relatively uncommon as these plants tend to stay solitary.

The flowers are borne on a stalk that emerges from the center of the rosette. Unlike some other Gasterias, this stalk is completely rigid and erect and doesn’t really bend. They’re orange or red or some shade of pink.

• Light: Full sun to light shade
• Mature Size: 6-8 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Gasteria ellaphieae

The Gasteria ellaphieae is a rosette-forming small succulent plant that is native to South Africa. This is among the most widely circulated types of Gasteria in the cultivation business. It’s highly sought after by succulent enthusiasts owing to its unique shape and easygoing nature.

Gasteria ellaphieae has thick, succulent leaves, dark green in color, that are slightly mottled with white spots. The leaves come in pairs arranged opposite each other in a perfectly symmetrical arrangement. They lay flush on the ground, so the resulting shape is a plant that’s almost laterally parallel to the ground and arranged like a mat. Most specimens usually have two pairs of leaves that are arranged on top of each other.

The flowers appear on a long stalk and are tubular in shape with red-colored petals. They appear on tall, slender, branching racemes. They appear in late spring.

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Mature Size: 1-2 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 30°F (-1.1°C)

Gasteria vlokii (Swartberg Oxtongue)

The Swartberg Gasteria (Gasteria vlokii) is a small, slow-growing succulent plant that’s found only in the Swartberg Mountains of South Africa (Southern Cape). It is a highly localized species, found only in specific spots in its natural habitat and nowhere else.

Like most Gasteria, its leaves are shaped like a cow or ox tongue, hence the name. Gasteria vlokii is definitely one of the more unusual-looking Gasterias. It forms eventual rosettes with thick, dark green leaves that only appear in opposing pairs when young. The leaf margins are often roughly edged in raised tubercles. The leaf surfaces are leathery and rough to the touch. They tend to become more and more recurved as they age (they start off almost completely flat).

Gasteria vlokii tend to flower at the tail end of the winter season (around Feb-Jan) with bell-shaped orange and green-tapering flowers. The flowers are borne on tall, pendant stalks that appear identical to the stalks of Gasteria ellaphieae. These two plants are closely related.

• Light: Dappled or Filtered Sunlight
• Mature Size: 4-6 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Gasteria glauca (Kouga River Gasteria)

The Kouga River Gasteria is a small, slow-growing succulent plant that is endemic to the Kouga River area in South Africa. Not to be confused with G. glomerata, which is commonly known as Kouga Gasteria. Both types of Gasteria are endemic to the same river in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, hence the common names.

The leaves are thick and fleshy, with a grey-green coloration that contrasts beautifully with the red flowers when they appear. Distinctly keeled at the bottom, the leaves that remain on the outer rim tend to be less erect than the ones on the inner rim.

These leaves are arranged in a tight rosette, with a few pairs of opposing leaves making up the rosette. Young plants only have one or two opposing pairs of leaves; not really a rosette, but as they age and more pairs appear, a rosette naturally forms.

Bell-shaped, orange flowers with green or yellow tips appear in the flowering season. They are borne on tall racemes that rise from the center of the rosette.

If you’re looking for an easygoing Gasteria, one that will forgive your neglect more than all others, Gasteria glauca is the way to go. Even among Gasteria succulents, which are notoriously easy to care for, Gasteria glauca stands out as growing practically by itself.

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Mature Size: 10 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Gasteria nitida (Bathurst Gasteria)

The Bathurst Gasteria (Gasteria nitida) is a South African species that are closely related to the aloe. It is among the most popular types of Gasteria currently in cultivation. It is native to the Eastern Cape Province. The plant is quite variable in appearance, but all specimens have thick, fleshy, triangular leaves with a glossy shine and dense white spots arranged in bands. “nitida” means “shiny” in reference to this glossy appearance.

A young Gasteria nitida looks vastly different from an adult Gasteria nitida. So much so that gardeners might end up confused about the plant they are growing. Young plants tend to only have a single pair of opposing leaf pairs, but as they age, more and more pairs appear, resulting in a rosette shape. They also become slightly upright and develop their characteristic shine with age.

The flowers of Gasteria nitida are unusual-looking. They’re long and pendulous, with a dark pink and yellow coloration which is only present in these types of Gasteria. These blooms dangle like earrings as they hang on the tall racemes that arise from the rosettes.

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Mature Size: 6-12 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Gasteria brachyphylla (Klein Karoo Ox-Tongue)

Gasteria brachyphylla is a small, slow-growing succulent plant native to South Africa. It gets its common name from its short, stubby leaves that resemble an ox tongue.

It’s a popular plant in cultivation due to its easy care requirements and low maintenance needs. The Klein Karoo Ox-Tongue is perfect for beginners or those new to succulents.

The leaves are thick and fleshy, ranging in color from light green to dark green. They’re always mottled with white or cream-colored spots. The degree of this white marbling varies between varieties and is hard to pin down.

The leaves are distichous, meaning they appear in opposing pairs along a single line. Multiple pairs emerge on the same line, parallel to each other instead of growing in a rosette shape. The leaf surface is smooth and glossy. Gasteria disticha, a close relative of Gasteria brachyphylla has almost identical features other than having a rough surface instead of glossy. This feature separates the two and makes them individually distinguishable.

Flowers are borne on tall stalks or pendant racemes. Typical of Gasteria, the flowers are flared at the bottom and taper to a point. The bulbous part of the flowers is pink, while the tips are white with green lines.

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Mature Size: 6-9 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Gasteria bicolor (Lawyer’s Tongue)

The Gasteria bicolor is a weird-looking succulent plant that’s perfect for beginning collectors. It’s a small plant, so it doesn’t take up much space. But it more than makes up for its size with its interesting shape and colors.

This plant is characterized by its long, tongue-like leaves. The leaves are dark green with lots of white spots on their surface. Different specimens have different densities of spots as this is a highly variable species.

Typical of Gasteria, the leaves are flat and fleshy. Young plants have opposing pairs of leaves, but as they mature, the plant forms clumps of these leaves resulting in an attractive, if untidy, appearance.

The flowers of the Gasteria bicolor are also quite unique. They’re tubular and can be either red or orange in color. They appear on tall racemes that emerge from the basal roots.

The Gasteria bicolor is native to South Africa and can be found in abundance in the wild. But it’s also popular as a houseplant because it’s so easy to care for.

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Mature Size: 20 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 30°F (-1.1°C)

Gasteria disticha (Great Karoo Ox Tongue)

The Great Karoo Ox Tongue (Gasteria disticha) is a succulent plant native to the Western Cape of South Africa. It gets its common name from the shape of its leaves, which are long and narrow like an ox tongue.

Its Latin name disticha refers to how its leaves tend to grow, i.e., distichous. This is a pattern of growth commonly seen in many types of Gasteria, which sees the leaves growing in two opposing rows.

These Gasteria plants have dark green, mottled leaves. The white spots are spread sporadically on the leaf surface with no apparent arrangement. In full sun, the tips of the leaves develop a red tint.

The blooms of Gasteria disticha are what really make this plant stand out. They’re a beautiful shade of pink and grow on tall stalks. The blooms are tubular in shape, and they have a

distinct earring shape

Gasteria disticha is often confused with Gasteria brachyphylla. But G. brachyphylla has smooth textured leaves, whereas G. disticha leaves are rough and bumpy.

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Mature Size: 9-12 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 30°F (-1.1°C)

Gasteria baylissiana (Suurberg Gasteria)

Gasteria baylissiana is a small, slow-growing stemless succulent plant quite popular in cultivation. It is native to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is named after Roy Bayliss, an English botanist of some renown.

Gasteria baylissiana consists of dark green, highly mottled leaves arranged in opposing pairs. The leaves are always mottled or speckled with raised white dots, giving them a beautiful marbled appearance.

This plant is prolific when it comes to giving off offsets. They appear near the base of the plant and cluster to form clumps of fleshy leaves that look attractive in a pot. It’s hard to tell which parts are the offsets and which parts belong to the original plant.

Red or pink flowers appear in the spring on a tall inflorescence that rises from the center of the clumps. This stalk is pendant and tilts freely under the weight of the flowers. The tips of these bell-shaped flowers in green, sometimes white.

Gasteria baylissiana is a popular choice for growing indoors due to its compact size and easy care requirements. It is also well suited to growing in containers and rockeries.

• Light: Part shade
• Mature Size: 4 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 30°F (-1.1°C)

Gasteria pillansii (Namaqua Gasteria)

The Namaqua Gasteria (Gasteria pillansii) is a succulent plant native to South Africa and Namibia. Its name comes from the area where it’s commonly found: the dry winter rainfall Namaqualand region. It is the only Gasteria present in that region, so it has some unique habits not found in other types of Gasteria.

Since this is the only Gasteria native to dry winter rainfall regions, it has adapted to grow in deep or light shade, which isn’t true for most Gasteria. This gives gardeners some leeway if they want to feature their Gasteria in an unusual spot.

It’s a small plant and grows slowly to boot. The strap-shaped leaves are thick and fleshy and have distinctive patterns resembling spots or stripes. They’re also covered in pimple-like bumps, which give the plant an interesting texture. They’re arranged in two opposing rows, a pattern we’ve seen repeated in many other types of Gasteria.

The flowers of Gasteria pillansii are tubular, and they grow on a simple branching raceme. They can be either orange or red, and they bloom in the wintertime.

• Light: Light or Deep shade
• Mature Size: 8 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Gasteria excelsa (Thicket Gasteria)

Gasteria excelsa is a succulent plant native to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It grows in dry, rocky areas and gets its common name from the fact that it is among the largest species in the Gasteria genus. Only falling behind Gasteria acinacifolia in height.

The thick leaves of Gasteria excelsa are dark green with white spots and can grow up to 18 inches (45 cm) long. They’re arranged in a rosette pattern and have a slightly bumpy texture.

The leaves have a deep grove on the top half that runs along the entire length of the plant. The margins of the leaves are sharply serrated with a thin white band that will easily cut skin if touched. Handle with care.

The flowers of Gasteria excelsa are tubular and vary in color from light pink to purple with green tips. They’re borne on spikes that can grow up to 3 feet (90 cm) tall. These tall spikes or inflorescences are highly branched and tilt downward under the weight of the flowers. These flowers appear in the summer.

Young plants appear vastly different from mature plants, with no rosette to speak of and only two or four leaves.

• Light: Light shade
• Mature Size: 23-30 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Gasteria croucheri (Natal Gasteria)

The Natal Gasteria (Gasteria croucheri) is a succulent plant that’s native to South Africa. Despite not being part of the genus, it’s often confused with Aloe plants since, at first glance, an adult Natal Gasteria looks exactly like one.

Like many other Gasteria species, the leaves are distichous when they’re young. As the plant ages, these green leaves pair up with more and more leaves to form a tight rosette. And along with more leaves, they also lose their white spots or marbling with age, resulting in a smooth, glossy green appearance of the leaves, just like most aloes!

Adult plant leaves are mostly straight with a slight inward curve to each individual leaf. The bottom sides are keeled with a rigid edge, and the sides are also rigid without any flex.

From late spring to summer, typical Gasteria flowers appear on tall racemes. Flowers or pink to orange with green or white tips.

Gasteria croucheri can form clusters of up to 8 plants from the base, but it rarely does so in cultivation.

• Light: Partial or Dappled Shade
• Mature Size: 15 inches
• Frost Hardiness: 30°F (-1.1°C)

Gasteria acinacifolia (Dune Gasteria)

The Dune Gasteria (Gasteria acinacifolia) is a succulent plant that’s native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

If you’re in the market for the biggest Gasteria there is, congratulations, you found it. Not only is the Gasteria acinacifolia the largest in the entire genus, dwarfing even the G. excelsa, but it is also quite easily cultivated.

Young plants are quite different from adult ones, a trend we’ve seen time and time again in the many different types of Gasteria. Young plants have strap-shaped leaves arranged in opposing pairs. In contrast, mature plants have their leaves arranged in a rosette.

Young plants also have raised tubercles or white spots on the surface of their leaves, but mature plants have smooth, glossy leaves.

These leaves are straight and lance-shaped, tapering to a sharp point at the tip. The edges of the leaves have thin white lines along their length that are extremely sharp to the touch.

Gasteria acinacifolia flowers appear on tall, flat-topped racemes that arise from the rosette. These pink flowers are borne in the summer months.

• Light: Part shade
• Mature Size: 1 meter
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Gasteria carinata (Bredasdorp Gasteria)

The Bredasdorp Gasteria (Gasteria carinata) is a slow-growing, succulent plant native to South Africa. It gets its common name from the town of Bredasdorp in the Western Cape province, where it’s found growing in rocky outcrops and hilly terrain.

This aloe relative is easily recognized by its thick, dark green, succulent leaves that are covered with white spots. The white spots are arranged in loose horizontal stripes along the width of the leaves.

The leaves are arranged in a spiral pattern when mature and in opposing vertical rows when juvenile. Distinct channels run along the upper surface of the leaves. Their bottom sides are often keeled rigidly.

Even for professionals, Gasteria carinata is perhaps one of the hardest Gasteria to identify. It is a highly variable species with staggering variety in color, size, and shape of the leaves and stems.

The flowers of the Gasteria carinata are borne on a stalk and are tubular in shape. They are usually pink in color with white or green highlights.

Gasteria verrucosa, previously identified as a distinct species, has been merged into Gasteria carinata as Gasteria carinata var. verrucosa.

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Mature Size: 6-8 in. tall, 20-25 in. wide
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Gasteria batesiana (Knoppies Gasteria)

Gasteria batesiana is a small, slow-growing succulent that is native to South Africa. It is only present in a small corner of South Africa to the northeast. Despite being fairly localized, there is still a lot of variance between different specimens growly only meters apart.

The rough, succulent leaves are dark green with a generous smattering of small white spots that cover the entire surface. These leaves are faintly triangular in shape when fully grown with a rounded tip. Juvenile Gasteria batesiana are distichous, but with maturity, these pairs of opposing leaves develop a rosette pattern.

Pink flowers are borne on solitary racemes that rise from the center of the rosette. The tips of the flowers transition to green from yellow. The flowering season depends on where the plant is growing but usually occurs around winter.

Unlike some other types of Gasteria, this one is very suited for container cultivation and serves quite well in indoor settings.

• Light: Part shade
• Mature Size: 2-4 in. tall, 6-8 in. wide
• Frost Hardiness: 25°F (-3.9°C)

Best Gasteria Varieties For Indoors (Video)

FAQ

References

• Gasteria rawlinsonii-IMG 0692 by Christer T Johansson is licensed under CC BY 3.0
• “Gasteria armstrongii” by srboisvert is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
• Gasteria polita – Plett by JIL is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
• “Gasteria glomerata” by mcgrayjr is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
• “190307 101 SD Botanic Gdn – Overlook Succulent Garden, Aeonium sp, Gasteria pulchra, Crassula multicava Fairy Crassula” by cultivar413 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
• “Gasteria Ellaphieae” by srboisvert is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
• Gasteria vlokii Prague 2012 2 by Karelj is licensed under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
• Gasteria glauca – SBG 3 by Abu Shawka is licensed under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
• Gasteria nitida var nitida – adult and juvenile forms by Abu Shawka is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
• Gasteria brachyphylla – Krohn Conservatory – DSC03557 by Daderot is licensed under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
• “File:Gasteria bicolor var bicolor 3.jpg” by Stan Shebs is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
• “Gasteria disticha” by srboisvert is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
• Juvenile Gasteria baylissiana 2 by S Molteno is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
• Gasteria pillansii var pillansii 1 by Stan Shebs is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
• Leaf detail of Gasteria excelsa varieties 2 by S Molteno, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Gasteria croucheri by Mangostar is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
• Juvenile Gasteria acinacifolia acilliers South Africa 5 by Abu Shawka is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
• Gasteria batesiana 1 by Stan Shebs is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
• Gasteria flower 3984 by Peter coxhead is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
• “File:1 Gasteria species – Distribution map South Africa.jpg” by S Molteno is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
• “‘Red-Yellow-Green’” by Lihoman… is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
• “Gasteria bloom” by Monkeystyle3000 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
• “xGasteraloe ‘green ice’” by srboisvert is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
• “Gasteria sp.” by srboisvert is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
• “Gasteria leaf cutting” by srboisvert is licensed under CC BY 2.0.