succulents for the water saving garden.

Gasteria is an easy decorative succulent plant in the water saving garden. It is endemic only to South Africa and is closely related to aloes in the sub-family Alooideae. Gasteria grow in the protection of shrubs, trees or rocks in their habitat. They need partial shade in the garden and grows easy in pots and containers indoor or outside. Gasteria species are not as sensitive to being wet as aloes and many other succulent plants. Propagation is easy done by putting a leaf, or a portion of a leaf into soil or sand. The leaf should be kept dry to slightly damp.
There are 16 species in the genus Gasteria and many species have variations. This short page is not for identification, but just an idea of what some Gasteria sp. look like. The name gasteria refer to the flowers with the round belly-shape(gasteriform).
	Gasteria liliputana is in the center back and the succulent plants from left to right are Haworthia integra. Aloe aristata and another Haworthia emilyae.


	Gasteria glomerata is a dwarf species. The largest plant on the photo was 7 cm long from the tip of the longest leaf on the left side to the tip of the longest leaf on the right.



Gasteria excelsa photos above. Gasteria is a shade loving plant which makes it ideal as a potted plant.

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Photo left: Gasteria pillansii grows in the shade of mesembs, rocks or other plants.

Photo rght: Gasteria carinata is hardy and can be planted in full sun.

Gasteria brachyphylia with sun damage. It is unsightly but no real danger to the plant which bloomed without any sign of stress. It will grow new leaves and we transplanted G. brachyphylia to a shady spot.

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photos above Gasteria bicolor is a very easy garden plant which needs little water.