Lithops Pebble Plants Mixed - Living Stone

Lithops 'Pebble Plants Mixed', also known as 'living stones' or 'pebble plants', are small, non-hardy succulent perennial plants which look like smooth pebbles. They bloom in late summer or early autumn with mainly yellow or white, daisy-like flowers. Perfectly adapted to drought and poor soils, these plants are sensitive to excess moisture, cold, and constantly damp soil. They need full light, sandy and poor soil, and should be protected in winter.

Confined in nature to the desert and semi-desert areas of South Africa and Namibia, the genus Lithops includes about forty species of perennial and succulent plants belonging to the Aizoaceae family. Each stemless plant rarely exceeds 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) high. It is composed of a pair of round, upright and fleshy leaves, joined at their base to form a cylindrical or hemispherical body with a deep fissure. They are rather dull colours, ranging from grey to greenish, yellowish or reddish. The growth period extends from July to November and is characterized by the formation of a new pair of leaves that seems to 'absorb' the substance of the old leaves that wither on the collar of the plant, at ground level. At the end of summer or early autumn, flowers emerge between these new pairs of leaves, carried by very short peduncles. They take the form of 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, entirely yellow or white, often fragrant, daisies with a yellow centre and many petals, opening in the afternoon and closing in the evening for several days. There are many variations, depending on the species. The flowers are followed by capsule fruits that contain numerous seeds and open when it rains.

Lithops 'Pebble Plants Mixed' will form small, amusing and very original colonies in planters or dry rock gardens in mild climates. In the wild, these plants are practically buried in loamy, sandy, or rocky, very well-draining and organic-poor soils which are dry for most of the year. In cultivation, it can be useful to grow them above ground and remove dead husks that can serve as refuges for moisture or parasites. They should be protected from frost and kept dry in winter.