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Haworthias suit partial shade or redden nicely in full sun. Ideal small indoor plant, or in rockeries. Not very frost-tolerant. About 70 species, many varieties. Most offset to form low clusters.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Variable species that is sometimes difficult to distinguish from H. retusa and H. pygmaea. Haworthias suit partial shade or redden nicely in full sun. Ideal small indoor plant, or probably OK in rockeries.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

One of about 70 species, a windowed and rounded leaf end sets this one apart. Will offset to form low clusters. Suits partial shade. Not very frost-tolerant.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

(Syn. H. ollasoni) Unusually attractive hybrid with large glossy windowed leaves. Forms big, grunty rosettes (for a Haworthia) that will offset and form even bigger, gruntier mounds. Best in light shade. Watch for fungus gnat

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

This is the smallest of all Haworthias and possibly the most endangered in habitat. Slowly forms cute tight clusters of hard dark green minutely tubercled unwindowed leaves. Avoid overwatering. Indoors only.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Splendid (and original) form of the variable H.pygmaea, its minutely papillate leaves giving a frosted appearance. Very slow to offset. Water sparingly.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Beautiful columnar miniature, slow growing, rare but easy in cultivation. Forms many upright leaf-clad stems, fatter than other forms, and radiating from an offsetting base. Indoors only in a bright position not too hot.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Haworthias suit partial shade or redden nicely in full sun. Ideal small indoor plant, or in rockeries. Not very frost-tolerant. About 70 species, many varieties. Most offset to form low clusters.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Haworthias suit partial shade or redden nicely in full sun. Ideal small indoor plant, or in rockeries. Not very frost-tolerant. About 70 species, many varieties. Most offset to form low clusters.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Haworthias suit partial shade or redden nicely in full sun. Ideal small indoor plant, or in rockeries. Not very frost-tolerant. About 70 species, many varieties. Most offset to form low clusters.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

This Haworthia is noted for its larger than usual flowers on shorter than usual peduncles. Nice finely bristled leaves and freely offestting. Suits partial shade. Ideal small indoor plant.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Horses' Teeth. Highly evolved leaves are windowed for sunlight to pass thru when the plant is flush with the ground. Needs bright light and light watering, esp. in cooler seasons. Suits pots only.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Attractive manmade hybrid with an interesting windowed leaf. Offsets and grows faster than H.truncata and probably tougher, even OK outdoors possibly maybe perhaps?

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Haworthias suit partial shade or redden nicely in full sun. Ideal small indoor plant, or in rockeries. Not very frost-tolerant. About 70 species, many varieties. Most offset to form low clusters.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Haworthias suit partial shade or redden nicely in full sun. Ideal small indoor plant, or in rockeries. Not very frost-tolerant. About 70 species, and many varieties. Most offset to form low clusters.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Haworthias suit partial shade or redden nicely in full sun. Ideal small indoor plant, or in rockeries. Not very frost-tolerant. About 70 species, many varieties. Most offset to form low clusters.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Hechtias are succulent ground-dwelling desert bromeliads from Mexico to a little bit south of there. They can flower more than once per rosette! Allow dry periods, best in direct sun light. OK outdoors in mild areas.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Forms a tight spiny sphere of amazing blue leaves. To 1m diameter. Flowers come in a spectaculur panicle of white bells known as Our Lords Candle. Salt, wind, drought tolerant. Easy in a sunny position. Takes light frosts.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Spiny succulent from very dry, stony areas in Namibia. Slow growing but can get to 80cm high. Flowers purple, hairy, 15-20cm diameter, the largest in the genus. Indoors only in brightest position, water sparingly and dry in winter.

6.Indoors OK, but not for beginners, Outdoors not OK.

Comments later, too busy right now!

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Small plant.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Comments later, too busy right now!

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Ethiopian stapeliad. From the base of the stems emerge dark star-shaped flowers covered in papillose tubercles. Easily grown indoor plant. Keep dry in colder weather.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Also known as H.guttata ssp reticulata, being a dark form of guttata. Flower is a little like H.zebrina but less striped and has hairs down the entranceway.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Wonderful red spotted flowers rather like H.zebrina. Fast-growing groundcovers with amazing flowers on new growth. Prefer large shallow bowl in shade to bright light. Outdoors, only if mild, and keep dry when cold.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Comments later, too busy right now!

6.Indoors OK, but not for beginners, Outdoors not OK.

This is an earlier clone we got, grows fine outdoors in Auckland.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Source of the 1kg fruit known as Pitaya, brilliantly scarlet-fleshed, and forming after the large flowers. Two clones are possibly needed for fruit production. A vigorous scrambling cactus needing freedom to grow and good root run.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Vigorous vining caudiciform, with huge purple flowers freely produced in late summer. Strictly summer growing but can survive Auckland winters (wet) outdoors in the garden.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Unusual spindle-shaped stem succulent from Central America and West Indies. Slowly grows to 50cm high. Groups of small bright red flowers in summer. Keep dry in winter when leaves drop.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Small plant with beautifully coloured leaves in bright light. Outdoor hardiness not yet assured for wet areas. Ask us for latest trial results.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Madagascan oddity to 50cm. Stresses up beautifully going white with red marbling if bright & underfed. Hides baby plantlet in roll of the leaf, like a vegetable kangaroo, but does not hop.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Southern African species, foolishly (and wrongly) called Bronze Sculpture by some. To 60 cm ht. Reddens nicely with bright light and stress. Outdoors best. Cold-hardiness unknown, but thrives in Auckland gardens.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Beautiful Ethiopian low growing mini-shrub. Needs warmth and bright light. Stress colours up the marbling on the leaves something wonderful. Flower is an 8cm long pure white wonder.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Powdery-leaved species from Madagascar. Can be greyish-pink to almost white in colour. Small pink flowers from a short terminal inflorescence. Easy to grow, full sun, well drained mix. For rockery or pot.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Commonly called the Panda Plant, this species from Madagascar is best grown in full sun where it will form a bush up to 80cm in height. Flowers brownish, borne on a long stem. Probably not hardy outdoors.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

syn. Senecio deflersii. Rare and unusual species from Yemen (Arabia) Thick upright stems to 50cm high, bright yellow shaving-brush flowers from stem tips in autumn/winter. Remove dead flowers. Bright light, indoors only.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Winter-growing bulb with almost-succulent leaves and reliable green flowers in May.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Used to be Drimiopsis kirkii. Has a spotted leaf like L.socialis but more tidy with less of the older dry tunics. Easy to grow in a pot. Try in warm rockery in mild areas also.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Tiny multiplying bulb. Stripey grass-like leaves and cute purple flowers arrive in spring. Expect yearly improvement in plant density and in your fondness for it. It’s a bloody cracker. Leave it outdoors in all seasons.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Unique cactus from Mexico. Slowly to 50 cm ht, sometimes offsetting from the woody trunk. Large scented yellow flowers in summer. Appreciates repotting. Likes a dry winter.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

One of the largest Lithops, heads to 5cm+. Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills. Water sparingly, and give a dry winter until October. Flowers Jan – May.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills. Water sparingly, and give a dry winter until October. Flowers Jan - May.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills. Water sparingly, and give a dry winter until October. Flowers Jan - May.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

One of the best Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in Namibia. Suited for bright windowsills. Water sparingly, and give a dry winter until October. Flowers Jan - May. Watch for root bugs.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Odd form with white flowers and lacking normal brown pigments. Suited for bright windowsills. Water sparingly, and give a dry winter until October. Flowers Jan - May. Watch for root bugs.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

This was separated from std venteri for its larger dark windows, less curtained. Suited for bright windowsills but shade the pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

This is the green form which grows wild alongside (and in fact siblings of) the purple optica 'rubra' in a very harsh hot coastal strip of Namibia. Of all the so-called Living Stones, these optica flower latest into winter and need some water through Autumn. However, they also need their summer water to arrive later than other Lithops species and in very restrained amounts too. Suited for bright windowsills but shade the pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

An intense ruby pink mutant Living Stone, disguised for stony deserts in the southern Namibian fog belt. Suited for bright windowsills. Water sparingly, and give a dry rest July until October while old leaves are re-absorbed.

6.Indoors OK, but not for beginners, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

A red selection from L. karasmontana mickbergensis. Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

This is a colour form of the only Lithops species with pink flowers, all the rest having white or yellow flowers. Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Living Stones, disguised for stony deserts in southern Africa . Suited for bright windowsills but shade pots to keep roots cool. Water sparingly, and give mature plants a dry winter until outer leaves shrivel up.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Comments later, too busy right now!

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Unusual Lobivia in having a powdery glaucous almost blue surface to its skin. Straight black spines and reliable pale yellow flowers in summer make this a fine miniature for the windowsill or greenhouse.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

(syn. Aloe citrea). Madagascan with berry fruit. Flat rosettes to 30cm diam, leaves dark green. Flowers lemon-yellow (hence the species name) with green midrib. Best in shade or indirect light. OK outdoors in mild areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Aloe relative from Madagascar. Flat rosettes to 35cm, leaves beautifully mottled. Flowers bright red with green tips. Grows best in shade or indirect light. Probably not OK outdoors.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Birdsnest Cactus. Tangle-topped bodies form mounded clusters in time. Sweetly scented small white flowers in mid-summer. Probably best lept in a pot in medium light.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Beautiful white clumping species from Mexico. Produces many small whitish flowers in rings around the top. Indoors only in brightest light. Keep fairly dry in winter.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Mound-forming, brain-shaped, and highly intelligent form of a relatively common cactus not known for its intellect. Keep indoors in bright light, and avoid overhead watering in winter, as trapped water can cause rots.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Seriously bizarre mutant form of Mammillaria bocasana. Pudgy, soft green blobs like silly putty, occasional bristly spines and white flowers with nothing but petals. Easy indoor plant in bright light.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

A beautifully white long-haired form of this classic globular cactus from Mexico, long known and grown for its mounds of balls covered in white hair from which appear rings of purple flowers in late winter. Bright light for great hair.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Exceptional form with thick, curving, white spines. Clump-forming cactus from Mexico. Numerous small whitish flowers spring to summer. Good pot specimen for bright indoor spot.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

syn. Solisia pectinata. CITES 1 species known only from 2 tiny populations totalling 158 plants in 1987, at 1900m asl in Mexico. Solitary small bodies, white to pink flowers, intricate pectinate spination. Slowgrowing rarity.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Gorgeous newer Mexican cactus with hooked black central spines standing out from the white radials on a body to 15cm ht., later offsetting basally. Indoors only, in bright light.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Choice Mexican cactus with soft feathery white spines. Highly scented white flowers in winter. Will slowly fill a huge bowl with a mound-like cluster. Indoors only, in brightest light. Water infrequently.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Short-columnar Mexican cactus to 20cm high. Small pink flowers around top of plant (sometimes forming a ring), spring to summer. Best kept in very bright light indoors away from curtains (spines get tangled). Easy.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Uncommon Mexican epiphytic cactus with large fern-like stems to several meters long. Best grown in shade and kept fairly well watered. OK outdoors if sheltered. Huge fragrant white nocturnal flowers.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Two leaves apppear in autumn from a buried bulb. By mid-winter a scented white shavingbrush flower sits between them. Leaves die down in spring. Bright light for good leaves, OK outdoors in mild areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Two pustulate burgundy-toned leaves appear in autumn from a buried bulb, soon followed by flowers with yellow anthers. Leaves die down in spring. Bright light for good leaves, OK outdoors in mild areas, but keep dryish in summer.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Rare and unusual Mexican caudiciform plant. Soft corky swollen base to 15cm across with vining growth and brown star shaped flowers. Dormant and leafless during colder months when it should be kept totally dry. Indoors only.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

From the April sun in Cuba, the world's smallest Melo reaches maturity at about 12cm diam. When mature a woolly dome is produced on the top of the plant from which small bright pink flowers arise. Easy indoors in bright light.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

10 cm long red spines make this one of the more formidable Melocacti. Plant body gets to about 12cm by 20cm high. Keep evenly watered (not too wet nor too dry) in a warm sunny area indoors. Flowers pink.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Shrubby mesem grown for its bizarre roots, thick trunk and treelike branching. Small pink flowers. Best outdoors, as a potted bonsai or raised in a rockery or bed so as to appreciate its wonderful base. If indoors needs bright light.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Strange African caudiciform from the Cucumber Family. Large furrowed lump with vigorous summer-growing vine & yellow flowers and beautiful fruit if pollinated. Keep drier in winter, but will most likely remain in leaf.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.