Haworthia springbokvlakensis- Unusual Beauty

If you’re searching for a botanical treasure to help your garden stand out, search no more. Haworthia springbokvlakensis is a small, slow-growing succulent originated in South Africa. The name of this plant means “flats where the springboks are found” (Springbok is a South African gazelle noted for springing lightly into the air).

What makes Haworthia springbokvlakensis so different is its unusual look. It has transparent leaves with fine purple-brown stripes growing almost flat to the ground, with rounded tips and extremely swollen leaf faces. The leaves are up to 2.4 inches (6 cm), up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) wide, grey-green to grayish-pink with translucent “windows”, more or less smooth with very small tubercles. Haworthia springbokvlakensis blooms with borne flowers on a slender inflorescence up to 10 inches (25 cm) tall. They petals are whitish with a brown mid-line. 

Haworthias are small, usually remaining between 3 and 5 inches (7.5 cm and 12.5 cm) in height. These decorative, little plants can be grown in interesting containers such as teacups and even miniature baby shoes.

Grow and Care Tips

Haworthia springbokvlakensis isn’t a difficult houseplant to grow. If you can keep Aloe alive indoors, you can do the same with this succulent. However, there are few requirements you need to fulfill to have a healthy and happy Haworthia springbokvlakensis.

When it comes to watering, this succulent should never be set in water. This means you should use the “soak and dry” method when watering it. This plant is dormant in the winter, so you should give it little to no water during the cold months. Being hardy up to -5°C, Haworthia springbokvlakensis can take a light frost if its properly protected. However, you shouldn’t let the temperature of the environment go below 5°C, just to be safe.

This succulent grows under the bushes in its natural habitat, so make sure it’s not exposed to direct sunlight since it will get sunburned. You should place Haworthia springbokvlakensis where it will be partly in shade, but receive some light during the day. More light this succulent has, the more colorful it will be. However, the amount of sun Haworthia springbokvlakensis can take depends on how hot it is in the area where you’re growing it.

Propagation

Haworthia springbokvlakensis can be propagated by seeds or offsets. Offsets will occasionally appear at the base between the leaves. You should let them grow up to 1/3 the size of the plant before detaching them.

This small, slow-growing succulent often grows in small clusters is small, shallow dishes. Over time, clusters will naturally get bigger as the mother plant sends off small plantlets. In the spring or early summer, when the cluster has outgrown its dish, you can repot them into a new wide and shallow dish with fresh potting soil. This is also the best time to take offsets for propagation.

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