Kingdom Plantae Clade Monocots Family Asphodelaceae Rank Species | Clade Angiosperms Order Asparagales Subfamily Asphodeloideae | |
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Similar Gasteria carinata, Gasteria batesiana, Blossfeldia liliputana, Gasteria disticha, Gasteria baylissiana | ||
Cleaning up and reptting an old pot of gasteria bicolor var liliputana
Gasteria bicolor (previously named Gasteria obliqua or Gasteria maculata) is succulent plant native to the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Contents
- Cleaning up and reptting an old pot of gasteria bicolor var liliputana
- Description
- Distribution
- Cultivation
- References
Description
This is a very variable species of Gasteria, that is common in cultivation. It grows multiple proliferous stems, all covered in untidy masses of the shiny, mottled, colourful, succulent leaves. It usually forms rosettes, but can sometimes be distichous, especially in cultivation. The leaves can also occasionally develop a keel. Each leaf has a sharp point on the tip.
The flowers generally appear on a long stem of about 30 cm, that carries tubular bell-shaped pink to orange flowers.
There are three major varieties, which grade into each other:
Distribution
It naturally occurs over a wide area of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. In its natural habitat, it is typically found on rocky slopes and outcrops in the thicket vegetation of the region, and is particularly common around Port Elizabeth. This is a summer rainfall region. Its natural range overlaps with several other species of Gasteria.
Cultivation
This species is popular in cultivation, although it is slow growing. It prefers well-drained rich soil and summer watering.