Lithops (Living Stone)

Lithops are living works of art from the arid deserts of southern Africa, evolved over millennia to resemble the pebbles and stones around them as camouflage against grazing animals. Each plant consists of a pair of fleshy, windowed leaves fused into a small rounded body, patterned with the mottled grays, tans, greens, and rusts of the surrounding rock. Mature plants produce surprisingly showy yellow or white daisy-like flowers from between the leaf pair in fall, emerging at soil level. Collections of mixed Lithops in a shallow dish create an endlessly interesting miniature landscape.

Grow in full sun indoors. A south-facing window is essential for best coloration and flowering. Use an extremely fast-draining cactus mix amended with extra coarse sand or perlite. The cardinal rule of Lithops care is this: water only during the active growing season, which runs roughly October through May. From June through September, withhold water almost entirely, as this summer drought signals the plant to shed its old leaf pair and push new growth. Overwatering at any time causes fatal rot. Hardy outdoors only in USDA zones 9b to 11, Lithops are houseplants in all of Oregon.

Non-toxic to pets and humans, and virtually pest-free, Lithops are among the lowest-maintenance plants you can own, provided their unusual watering cycle is respected. Patient gardeners find them deeply rewarding. Crack the code on their rest cycle and they flower reliably every fall for years.