It was only as I was damping down one of the greenhouses
that I noticed the flowers.
For most of the year, my lithops sit in their pots like well behaved little pebble plants or living stones (their other names).
But in autumn, having spent several months doing very little, their time in the limelight has arrived.
The flowers are exquisite
and each one lasts a few days.
Lithops need very little care:
April 2012
I start watering when the new leaves appear through the old shriveled pair in spring; carry on once or twice a week till autumn and then stop completely over winter. They need a sharp-draining compost mix and a hot, sunny windowsill or greenhouse.
Just don’t forget about their brief moment of glory (as I almost did).
It is quite worth the wait.
The Anxious Gardener 
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Those must be the neatest, best displayed, healthiest pebbles I’ve ever seen. Others may not be overly fond of lithops but I love them and finally got my first one this spring. I can only hope it does as well, but I’ll be satisfied if it manages to stay alive. Love the pictures as well as the subjects.
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Thanks – I’m sure yours will be fine and hopefully it’ll double in number when it produces new leaves next spring. D
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Lovely indeed. Simple beauty from such unlikely-looking sources! They are rather intriguing…
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Glad you like them, Sara.
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I used to grow a lot of cacti and succulents, including Lithops, but seeing them bloom was a rare treat. These are beautiful.
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Thanks, Allen. I tend to find the splitting and new leaf stage as exciting as the flowers. D
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Uuterly charming flowers erupting from decidely curious source. I have promised myself that once I have what I can call an established garde, rather than a giant jigsaw of projects, I will grow pretty things in the greenhouse. Definitely lots of interesting pelargoniums, plus alpines. Now, plus these There is something special about a plant that spends most of the year looking so weird before erupting with such pretty flowers. Wonder if I will manage to find the bookmark when I get around to that phase?!
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Tell me when you’re ready, Janet and I’ll send you a couple if you like. D
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Oooh, thank you! Though it will be a while…
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Amazingly showy flowers from plants that are naturally non descript!
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Pretty, huh? – but then I like the actual plants too. D
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Those flowers are so beautiful, I have never seen them flowering and am converted!
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Yay! A lithops convert. D
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They are very delicate flowers. Italian windows all open inwards not out and so it is not feasible to put things on the sills as you have to keep moving them,
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I’m learning a lot about continental window sills, Christina. French and Italians both don’t have ’em apparently. D
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Hi Dave,
they DO look like a bit of old shoe or an unwanted donor organ, but they also look like there’s a promise in there waiting for the right moment to tell you otherwise. I’m amazed you can get them to grow at all in the UK – testament to your rare skill with all things green and growing.
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Hey Mr F, I shall never look at them again without thinking of unwanted donor organs – so thanks for that! D
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I’ve also never seen them in flower before. Thanks for sharing.
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Your welcome. D
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Whilst I like most succulents I have never been very keen on these but seeing your in flower may just have changed my mind.
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I’ve loved them since I was a kid, Helen. I even like them in their non-flowering state with the pretty patterns on the ‘leaves’. D
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Whilst I like lots of succulents these have never appease but seeing yours in flower I may be persuaded otherwise. Might keep an eye out for some.
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I’ve never seen them flower before, they are beautiful. Unfortunately, I do not have a window sill. I think this is common in French houses, the window sills are outside. I do miss window sills and airing cupboards.
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Well who knew that French houses didn’t have window sills? (Apart from you of course. And millions of French people). D
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