| Botanical Name |
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| Family |
Asphodelaceae - The Asphodel family.
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| Pronunciation |
ha-WORTH-ee-a at-ten-yoo-AY-tuh |
| Common Name(s) |
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| Plant Group |
- Ground Cover A plant with a low-growing, spreading habit, grown specifically to cover the ground.
- Succulent A plant having fleshy stems or leaves often adapted to dry conditions.
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| Plant Size |
- Very Small
| Tree | 3m to 4m |
| Shrub | 25cm to 50cm |
| Perennial/ground cover | Up to 10cm |
| Bulb | 10cm to 20cm |
| Succulent | Up to 5cm |
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| Position |
- Canopy Shade Canopy shade is found below closely grown trees where some light filters through. Ideal for the protection of herbaceous plants.
- Light or Dappled Shade Found below trees with sparse, open foliage. Ideal for the protection of herbaceous plants.
- Partial Shade The area is in shade for part of the day and in full sun for part of the day.
- Sun The area is in full sun for all or most of the day, all year round.
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| General Information |
- Drought Tolerance: Moderate The plant is moderately adapted to arid conditions and can survive short periods of drought and high temperatures without extra water.
- Evergreen Plants that have leaves all year round.
- Frost: Half-hardy The plant is able to survive low temperatures and some frost but requires protection against severe frost.
- Water Moderate These plants will need some extra watering compared to water-wise plants. Plant them together, in at least some shade and in a convenient proximity to the house so that grey water can be utilised during times of drought.
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| Specific Information |
Haworthia attenuata has dark green, pointed and strikingly banded or leaves spotted with white with varying amounts of variegation. Tubercles are "patterned" on the upper surface of the leaves. The lower surface of the leaves have bands of tubercles. In the veld Haworthia attenuata forms large clumps and are very long-lived, a generation lasting for 50 years.
This species is endangered in the wild due to urban expansion, persistent medicinal plant harvesting and their restricted habitat and distribution.
Haworthias belong to the aloe family. They tend to get lost in the garden so consider keeping them close to each other until they have formed clumps, in pockets in a rock garden or a special area set aside for very small plants. There are many different types of haworthia and a combination of them in a shallow container is always an attraction.
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| Flowers |
| Description |
Small, tubular, on long, thin stems.
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| Season |
- Spring Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.
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| Colour |
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| Growth Rate |
- Moderate Specifying growth rate can be very misleading as there is considerable variation of growth rate depending on type and species of plant, available water, supplementary feeding, mulching and general care, as well as the plants suitability and adaptability to the garden environment.
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| Plant Uses |
- Container Trees, shrubs and ornamental species that can adapt to growing in a restricted environment.
- Edging A low growing plant that provides softness or definition to the edges of a bed or walkway.
- Filler Either a fast growing tree or shrub used temporarily to fill in an area while the permanent plants grow to a desired size, or a plant used to fill gaps in borders or beds.
- Ground Cover Low-lying plants that spread fast, require minimal maintenance, and cover large expanses or bare areas between bulbs or shrubs. They provide protection from erosion and drought and improve the visual appearance of the garden.
- Pot Plant A plant that needs a protected environment on a patio or indoors.
- Rock Garden An area constructed of larger rocks, arranged naturally, to emphasise the use of stones as a main element. Generally plants used do not need a lot of care.
- Suitable for smaller gardens Such plants do not have invasive root systems, remain small or controllable and can often be grown in containers.
- Wild Garden An indigenous garden planted for the benefit of wildlife and birds. Provides food, water, a variety of mini-biomes and no poisonous chemicals are used.
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| Distribution and Habitat |
from Hankey to the Fish River in the Eastern Cape, in Albany Thicket, Fynbos, Grassland, Bushveld and dry karroid scrub
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| Planting Suggestions |
Plant in a position where the plants will get a little shade from surrounding plants for some of the day. Haworthias also thrive on a little more water than most other succulents.
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| Medicinal Uses |
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