XGasterhaworthia
xGasterhaworthia (the "×" marks it as an intergeneric hybrid) is the cross between the genera Gasteria and Haworthia, both members of the family Asphodelaceae. These hybrids blend gasteria's thick, tongue-shaped leaves with haworthia's tight, compact rosette habit, producing sturdy little plants that sit somewhere between their two parents in both looks and temperament. They are a favourite curiosity among collectors of soft-leaved succulents.
What they are
Because Gasteria and Haworthia are closely related genera native to southern Africa, they cross readily in cultivation, and growers have hybridised them deliberately to combine desirable traits. The resulting plants carry the × prefix to signal their hybrid origin. Documented ×Gasterhaworthia plants are man-made garden hybrids rather than wild-collected ones. Being a nothogenus (a hybrid genus), ×Gasterhaworthia has no wild "species" of its own — every plant is a named cultivar or an unnamed grower's cross rather than a naturally occurring taxon.
The best-known clone is the widely grown ×Gasterhaworthia 'Royal Highness, but many other selections circulate under nursery and collector names.
Appearance
Most ×Gasterhaworthia hybrids form low, compact rosettes of firm, fleshy leaves. The leaves tend to be thicker and more strap- or tongue-shaped than a typical Haworthia, inherited from the Gasteria side, while the overall rosette stays neater and more symmetrical than a sprawling gasteria. Leaf surfaces are often dark green and may carry raised pale tubercles or flecks, sometimes with a slightly rough, sandpapery texture. Colour can flush reddish or bronze in bright light or under stress.
Like both parents, these hybrids are slow, undemanding, and generally offset in time to form small clumps. Flowers, when they appear, are borne on a slender stalk and typically show the tubular, swollen-based shape characteristic of gasteria blooms.
Cultivation
Care follows the same easygoing routine as the parent genera — see Gasteria and Haworthia for detail. In short:
- Light — Bright, indirect light suits them best. They tolerate more shade than most cacti, which makes them good windowsill plants, but very deep shade will stretch the rosette and dull the colour.
- Water — Water thoroughly, then let the mix dry out before watering again. Like their parents they store water in their leaves and rot easily if kept soggy. Ease off in winter. See Watering.
- Soil — A gritty, free-draining mix is essential; a standard succulent blend with extra grit or pumice works well.
- Temperature — Keep them frost-free and on the warmer side; they are happy at normal room temperatures and dislike cold, wet conditions.
- Toxicity — Like Gasteria and Haworthia, these hybrids are generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Being tough and forgiving, ×Gasterhaworthia hybrids are a good choice for beginners who like an unusual plant. See also Repotting and Pests and diseases.
Propagation
As with the parents, propagation is easiest from offsets — pups that form around the base can be separated and grown on once they have a few roots (see Propagation - offsets). Many hybrids can also be raised from leaf cuttings, taking a whole leaf cleanly from the base, letting it callus, and rooting it on a dry, gritty surface (see Propagation - cuttings). Because these are hybrids, seed will not come true to the parent plant, so vegetative methods are the reliable way to keep a particular clone going.
See also
- Gasteria — one parent genus
- Haworthia — the other parent genus
- Succulents
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation - offsets · Propagation - cuttings