Barry’s Lithops

Photo by Gayla Trail  All Rights Reserved

Can you distinguish the plants from the rocks? Lithops, aka stone plants, are a favourite botanical freak but I am very tentative about growing them. I’ve killed a fair share and even though I have an intellectual understanding of their needs, I still don’t feel like I truly “get” them in practice. I currently have 2 plants and I haven’t killed them yet so that’s saying something, I suppose.

Photo by Gayla Trail  All Rights Reserved

My friend Barry grew these from seed. He says they are about 2 years old. Look at the exciting colours in there!

I never see anything that interesting in stores. I’ve got a packet of seed that I bought back in the spring. I hope to grow them this winter once my outdoor gardening activity cools off. Since I’m feeling a bit nervous about the experiment, I’ve started a Lithops Grow-Along thread in the You Grow Girl Forums. Support, camaraderie, and accountability just might be the ticket to success. Wanna join me?

Gayla Trail
Gayla is a writer, photographer, and former graphic designer with a background in the Fine Arts, cultural criticism, and ecology. She is the author, photographer, and designer of best-selling books on gardening, cooking, and preserving.

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7 thoughts on “Barry’s Lithops

  1. Those Lithops are gorgeous! Mine are still too young to have any real colouration. I’m a bit jealous. I have some pics on my blog, but I think I’ll post the link over in your forum. :)

  2. The lithops are like colorful plant candies. You’ve set up very appealing displays for the plant-jems! I wish I could grow some, but I’m not allowed to take on another plant until I properly prune the current ones…bad me…

  3. These are amazing! I always see these in gardening centers here in Austin but haven’t grown any yet…I would love to join the seed growing fiesta!

  4. This is the post that broke me! I’ve been stalking garden shops for months after being introduced to lithops on your blog and have never seen them. Today I went online and got a pair there! I can’t wait for them to arrive. If they survive maybe I’ll move on to seed. Love them!!

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