Few plants can spark conversation like lithops (aka living stones or stone faces). In their natural habitat, these intriguing succulent life-forms blend in with the surrounding non-living stones and sand. Some might say they even resemble brains or bottoms – yeah, those bottoms. The tops of their windowed leaves feature intricate patterns. In their native home of South Africa, Lithops gradually spread to form large colonies that can span 6 feet in diameter. In your planted spaces, however, potted lithops are particularly great at lending quirky flair to bright and tight spaces. You will have four new lithops with which to adorn a windowsill, desk, or other nook or cranny. A single body can be up to 1.5" in diameter and is split by a central cleft, creating a nearly stemless bilobed body (cue the comparisons to bottoms). When in the bloom, lithops temporarily lose their “masters of disguise” powers, as the plants are nearly obscured by flowers that are composed of frilly satiny yellow or white petals.

Provide bright light, such as a sunny window or part sun outside. Water thoroughly when the soil is dry to the touch during spring, late summer, and fall. Water new leaves only when old leaves are dry husks. Flowers late summer to fall.