What is a Lithop?
Lithops is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae. Members of the genus are native to southern Africa.
The name is derived from the Ancient Greek words λίθος ‘stone’ and ὄψ ‘face’, referring to the stone-like appearance of the plants.
Where Can I Buy Lithops In South Africa?
Garden World Nursery
Address: Beyers Naudé Dr, Muldersdrift, 1747, South Africa
Hours: Closes soon ⋅ 5 pm ⋅ Opens 8 am Thu
Phone: +27 11 957 2046
Lifestyle Home Garden
Address: Ysterhout Dr &, Beyers Naudé Dr, Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg, 2156, South Africa
Hours: Closes soon ⋅ 5 pm ⋅ Opens 7 am Thu
Phone: +27 11 792 5616
Stodels Garden Centre Menlo Park
Address: 01, Greenlyn Village Centre, 13 Thomas Edison St, Menlo Park, Pretoria, 0081, South Africa
Areas served: Pretoria and nearby areas
Hours: Closes soon ⋅ 5 pm ⋅ Opens 8 am Thu
Phone: +27 12 460 5137
Cultivo Carnivores – Carnivorous plant specialists (online nursery)
Address: Carnivorous plant garden (open to the public) & workshops inside Strawberry Pot, 202 Hendrik Verwoerd Dr, Wierdapark, Centurion, 0149, South Africa
Phone: +27 64 628 9497
Are lithops plants in South Africa?
Lithops, also known as living stones or pebble plants, are little succulent plants that blend in with rocks to avoid being eaten.
They’re basically the world’s most camouflaged plant and have evolved to look like the pebbles and rocks of their native habitats in southern Africa.
How do you grow lithops in South Africa?
Lithops optica is best planted in a sunny and airy part of the greenhouse, and not too close to the glass roof or sides of the house as the plants can overheat during hot spells.
They do not necessarily need direct sun all day and are best protected from the withering midday and afternoon sun.
How long do lithops take to grow?
It’s around this time that flowers start to appear – look out for the fissure opening and a bud growing out. Lithops need to be at least three years old to flower. Lithops continue growing through winter and into spring, with the new pair of leaves growing inside the old.
How long do lithops seeds last?
Lithops seed remains viable for at least twelve years, probably much longer, and quite often a proportion of the seed sown just does not germinate when one plans that it should, but may do so a year or even two years later. In fact, it seems very often to germinate better when it has been kept for a year or two.