Living Stones

Two species of Lithops in bloom. When they're not in bloom, they look just like rocks. In bloom, however, they're quite flashy little guys. Notice that the two different colored Lithops have different flowers as well. For some plants, you need to have a bloom to decide which species they are. In this case, both leaves and flowers are different.

Living Stones

Lithops (brown) and Argyrodermo testiculare (blue). Living stones come in all sorts of colors and forms. Here are two. The first is a Lithops, apparently a quite large family of living stones with a flat face and rock-like colors. The second is an Argyrodermo testiculare which is a really cool jade green.

Living Stones

Living Stones; Lithops species. Maybe Lithops dorotheae or other mix of species. Lithops were accidentally discovered in Africa by John Burchell in 1811. John picked up an apparently beautiful stone and discovered, to his surprise, that it was a plant! These are fairly easily grown, thorn free and quite beautiful. They like somewhat of a dry rest in the Winter and water during the Spring growing season. Better yet, they can be purchased very inexpensively at most cacti dealers including places like Target and Walmart (if you don't have a cacti dealer nearby) or mail ordered over the web. I found one dealer with a particularly large number of Lithops species and good background information at www.lithops.net.

Around the Garden: Lithops

Living Stone, Lithops species. Lithops are called Living Stones because, when not in bloom, they look just like stones! This Lithops was in bloom in the yard a few days ago. The flower appeared to only last a few hours but what a display while it lasts! A few hours seem like too short a time for a bee to find and pollinate the flowers. If they do, however, there is pollen gallore!