Succulent
Zebra Plant Haworthia
Haworthiopsis attenuata · Asphodelaceae
Also called: Zebra Haworthia, Zebra Plant, Zebra Cactus, Window Plant
Zebra Plant Haworthia (Haworthiopsis attenuata) is a low-water succulent well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a slow-growing succulent. Expect white to pale pink, small blooms Sends up a thin stalk of small tubular flowers in spring-summer.
Zebra Plant Haworthia at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Prefers bright indirect light or gentle morning sun; in Tucson full afternoon sun bleaches and scorches it red/brown. Typically grown indoors or in bright shade on a covered patio.
- Mature size
- Rosette about 4-6 in tall and wide, clumping wider over time
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Bloom
- White to pale pink, small, Sends up a thin stalk of small tubular flowers in spring-summer; grown mainly for foliage rather than bloom.
- Cold hardiness
- Tender; protect below about 40 F. In Tucson keep indoors or move containers under cover for freezing nights; not reliably frost-hardy outdoors.
- Soil
- Sharp-draining cactus/succulent mix; shallow pots with drainage holes work well because of its small root system.
- Native range
- Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Best used as
- Indoor houseplant, Dish gardens and terrariums, Small container accent, Windowsill collection succulent
- Wildlife
- Negligible wildlife value as grown; an ornamental foliage succulent.
- Toxicity
- Generally considered non-toxic / pet-safe (unlike Kalanchoe and Aloe); a good choice for homes with pets and children, though ingestion may cause mild stomach upset.
How to grow Zebra Plant Haworthia in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Water thoroughly when the soil is fully dry, roughly every 1-2 weeks in the warm season and every 3-4 weeks in winter dormancy. Very sensitive to overwatering-soggy soil rots the roots quickly.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Minimal needs; a dilute (quarter- to half-strength) balanced succulent fertilizer once or twice during spring-summer growth is sufficient. Do not feed in winter.
Pruning & care
No real pruning needed; remove dried outer leaves and separate offsets (pups) to propagate or keep clumps tidy.
Notes
Reclassified from Haworthia attenuata to Haworthiopsis attenuata. The classic 'zebra' look comes from raised white tubercle bands on dark green leaves. In Tucson it is best grown as an easy low-light indoor or shaded-patio succulent, never in blazing full sun.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; PlantZAfrica / SANBI (pza.sanbi.org); NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; World of Succulents (worldofsucculents.com)