Lithops lesliei
| Light | Very bright light, including some direct sun; full sun in cooler climates |
|---|---|
| Water | Very sparingly; water in autumn and spring only, keep bone dry in summer and mid-winter |
| Soil | Extremely free-draining, mostly mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep frost-free; USDA zones 9–11, tolerates brief light frost when bone dry |
| Propagation | Seed (primary); division of established clumps |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Lithops lesliei is one of the most widespread and commonly grown of the living stones, a group of tiny, stemless succulents that mimic the pebbles among which they grow. Its paired, fused leaves form a low, flat-topped body with a grey-brown to olive or coffee-coloured top, patterned with fine, intricate reticulate (net-like) markings, and it produces cheerful yellow daisy-like flowers in autumn. Widely distributed across the interior of southern Africa and easygoing by Lithops standards, it is a frequent first living stone for many growers.
Description
Lithops lesliei consists of a single pair of thick, fused leaves that together form a rounded, inverted-cone body, typically 2–4 cm across at the flat upper surface. A fissure runs across the top, dividing the two leaves; from this cleft the flower — and each year's new leaf pair — emerges. The exposed top, or "face", is windowed and patterned, while the bulk of the plant sits buried in the soil in habitat, with only the flat top exposed to catch light.
The colouring is variable: greyish-brown, olive, tan or reddish-coffee tones, overlaid with a network of darker reticulate lines and small dots and dashes that break up the outline against surrounding stones. Several named forms and colour variants exist, including green-bodied and rusty-red selections prized by collectors.
Bright yellow flowers appear in autumn, opening in the afternoon over a few successive days; they are relatively large, often nearly covering the plant's face. Some forms carry a faint scent. Over time a single plant slowly divides to form a small clump of heads.
Distribution and habitat
The species is one of the most widely distributed living stones, native to a broad swath of the interior of South Africa — particularly across the Free State, Gauteng, North West and neighbouring provinces — and extending into southern Botswana. It grows in open grassland and among quartzite, ironstone and other rocky ground, where its patterned top blends almost perfectly with the surrounding pebbles — a camouflage that protects it from grazing and from the harsh sun.
Plants endure a strongly seasonal climate: hot summers with rain, and cold, dry winters. During drought and dormancy they shrink down flush with the soil, so that all but the flat window is hidden below the surface.
Cultivation
Lithops lesliei is undemanding once its watering rhythm is understood, and overwatering — especially at the wrong time of year — is by far the commonest cause of loss. Grow it in a deep, narrow pot in an extremely free-draining, largely mineral mix, and give it the brightest light you can, including direct sun; too little light makes the body elongate and lose its markings.
Watering follows the plant's natural cycle rather than the calendar alone. Water in autumn (around flowering) and again in spring, always letting the soil dry completely between drinks. Through the heat of high summer and again in deep winter, keep the plant essentially dry. Crucially, withhold water entirely while the old leaf pair is being reabsorbed in late winter and spring — the plant lives off the moisture in the old leaves as the new pair forms, and watering during this period causes stacked or rotting heads. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the primary and most rewarding method. Sow fresh seed on the surface of a gritty, mineral mix, keep it lightly humid and warm, and expect tiny seedlings that are grown on slowly over several years. Established multi-headed clumps can also be divided, though Lithops resent root disturbance, so lift and separate them only when dormant or just before growth resumes, and keep the divisions dry until new roots form. See Propagation - seed and Propagation - offsets for fuller walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Rot — almost always from watering during dormancy or the leaf-renewal period, or from a mix that holds too much moisture; the body goes soft, translucent and mushy.
- Stacking / failure to renew — watering while the old leaves should be drying up leads to multiple leaf pairs piled on one another instead of a clean annual replacement.
- Etiolation — insufficient light makes the body swell upward, pale and lose its stony markings.
- Pests — mealybugs (including root mealybugs) and the occasional spider mite; sap-sucking bugs sometimes scar the leaf tops.
See also
- Lithops — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
- Propagation - seed · Propagation - offsets
- Pests and diseases