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Haworthia retusa 5.5cm

Name: Haworthia retusa 5.5cm
Brand: Greenleaf Garden Center
SKU: Hawretus5.5cm6
Price: 2.5 EUR
Availability: InStock

€3,00

€2,50

Quantity

Succulent · Asphodelaceae · Crystalline low rosette

Haworthia retusa

The plant that looks ready to forgive almost anything 🧼

Family: Asphodelaceae · Pot diameter: 5.5 cm

Asphodelaceae
Translucent windows
Low geometric rosette
Bright shade
South African species

Haworthia retusa resembles a miniature sculpture made from green glass: thick triangular leaves open into a low symmetrical rosette and finish in flattened translucent surfaces. Fine lines inside these “windows” create depth, allowing each leaf to change character as the viewing angle shifts.

Its calm, precise geometry belongs in small collections and places where detail can be appreciated at close range. It needs no loud colour to command attention; the contrast between fleshy bases, truncated tips and glass-like sheen gives it subtle collector appeal and an effortlessly contemporary presence.

What makes it stand out

Three defining details that turn its botanical identity into real presence for a collection and interior.

Natural light windows

Flattened tips allow part of the incoming radiation to travel deeper into the tissues.

A low sculptural rosette

Leaves spread close to the surface and form a crisp star-like outline.

Detail made for close viewing

Fine striations, reflections and subtle shifts of green reward close observation.

Why you’ll love it: it offers the rare impression of a crystalline object translated into a living rosette, with a quiet presence unlike an ordinary succulent.

In your spacePlacement & plant pairingsWhere it looks best and which plants complement it

In your space

Where it looks its best

Place it near eye level in pale ceramic or stone so the windows catch side light. Leave a little open space around it, allowing the entire low star-shaped outline to remain visible.

Plant pairings

Plants that complement it

Pair it with plants that genuinely share its light, substrate and seasonal rhythm. Separate pots keep care precise for each one.

Haworthia cooperi — rounder translucent tips in the same quiet palette.
Gasteria bicolor — upright spotted texture with a compatible preference for filtered brightness.
Haworthiopsis attenuata — raised white bands for stronger textural contrast.

Care at a glance

Light

Abundant filtered brightness with only gentle morning or late sun.

Watering

Water after the mix has dried well, never leaving the roots saturated.

Mild seasonal rhythm

Mild temperatures, good airflow and a summer slowdown during intense heat.

Pets & children

Not intended for consumption; keep it away from chewing by children or animals.

For this plant

Substrate & nutrition

Suitable substrateSybasoil Cacti & Succulent Premium Mix 5ltView product

Suitable feedCactus&Succulent focus 100mlView product

Detailed careComplete care guideLight, drying cycle, climate, substrate and feeding in detail

Light and position

Provide bright shade near an east-facing window or behind a sheer curtain. Fierce midday sun can brown the windows, while deep shade loosens the rosette.

Correct watering

Let most of the mix dry and judge the pot by weight. Water at root level, allow drainage to finish and do not leave water collected in the centre.

Airflow and humidity

It prefers dry to moderate air with gentle movement. The combination of a dense rosette, heat and persistent moisture increases the risk of rot.

Temperature and seasonal rhythm

Activity is strongest during mild spring and autumn periods. It slows in extreme heat or cold, so moisture is reduced according to actual use.

Substrate

Use a porous succulent mix with a generous mineral fraction, though not as extremely mineral as a Lithops mix. The pot must release excess water immediately.

Feeding, repotting and handling

After fresh Sybasoil, allow the initial nutrition to be used. Later apply diluted Cactus & Succulent Focus only while the rosette is steadily producing new leaves.

Botanical identityIdentity & natural originAccepted name, taxonomic history and natural or cultivated provenance

An accepted South African species

The accepted name is Haworthia retusa (L.) Duval in Asphodelaceae. The present combination was published in 1809.

First described as an Aloe

Linnaeus described it in 1753 as Aloe retusa. Its later transfer to Haworthia reflects subsequent taxonomic understanding of the group.

A narrow Western Cape range

The typical variety is native to the south-western Cape, especially the Riversdale district, in sites where much of the rosette may remain low among stones.

From natural habitat to care: Its low rosette and translucent windows capture useful radiation without exposing the whole leaf surface. In cultivation this points to abundant filtered brightness, a porous root zone and a measured drying cycle rather than fierce sun.

Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific facts nobody asked forBotanical detail for anyone who wants to know what lies behind the plant’s appearance

Windows are specialised tissue

The clearer tips allow radiant energy to reach photosynthetic cells deeper inside the leaf.

“Retusa” describes the shape

The epithet refers to the truncated or blunt tip, the feature that gives the rosette its flattened appearance.

The rosette can sit recessed

In natural sites much of the leaf body may be protected close to the surface, with mainly the windows remaining exposed.

It uses CAM

Night-time carbon dioxide uptake limits moisture loss and supports its fleshy, measured growth.

Frequently asked questions

Useful answers about light, watering, seasonal rhythm and the plant’s correct identity.

01Why are the leaf tips translucent?

They are natural windows that channel part of the incoming radiation deeper into the leaf.

02When does it need watering?

When the mix has dried well and the pot feels lighter, adjusted to the plant’s seasonal activity.

03Why is it turning brown or red?

It may be responding to fierce sun, heat or dryness. Move it to bright shade and check the root zone.

04Why is the rosette opening and stretching?

Loose elongation usually indicates insufficient brightness. Increase it gradually without fierce midday sun.

05Is it the same as Haworthiopsis?

No. Haworthia retusa remains in Haworthia; many tougher, banded species were moved to Haworthiopsis.

06Can it produce offsets?

Yes, some mature plants form side rosettes, although the rate varies naturally between individuals.

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Haworthia retusa 5.5cm

Haworthia retusa 5.5cm

Haworthia retusa

What makes it stand out

Natural light windows

A low sculptural rosette

Detail made for close viewing

Where it looks its best

Plants that complement it

Care at a glance

Light

Watering

Mild seasonal rhythm

Pets & children

Substrate & nutrition

Light and position

Correct watering

Airflow and humidity

Temperature and seasonal rhythm

Substrate

Feeding, repotting and handling

An accepted South African species

First described as an Aloe

A narrow Western Cape range

Windows are specialised tissue

“Retusa” describes the shape

The rosette can sit recessed

It uses CAM

Frequently asked questions

Haworthia retusa 5.5cm — Care & Tips

We take care of the packaging!

With specially designed boxes, we ensure that the plants will reach you intact, no matter what they encounter on the way!

All plants in 3L pots or larger are placed in individual boxes that secure the plant at the base of the pot, preventing it from tipping over.

The cardboard used for the boxes is specially made to provide resistance to potential impacts during transport.

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