Plate No. 30
Cooper's Haworthia
Haworthia cooperi
"Translucent jewels in a small rosette"
Native to
Quartz fields of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
History
A brief account
Cooper’s Haworthia is a small, elegant succulent whose clear leaf tips give it a jewel-like appearance. Named for Thomas Cooper, the 19th-century English plant hunter who collected widely in southern Africa, it is admired for the way light passes through its transparent windows and reaches chlorophyll deep within the leaf. This adaptation allows it to thrive in bright but often harsh environments where it must make the most of every ray of sun. Its compact rosette and polished texture make it a subtle but striking addition to any collection.
How to care for
Place Cooper's Haworthia according to its light needs: Bright indirect light. Avoid harsh midday sun. For watering, sparingly — every two to three weeks when soil is dry. For the potting medium, use mineral-rich mix with pumice and sand. Good drainage is essential: let surplus water escape freely and never leave the roots standing in a wet saucer.
10–27°C. Frost-tender. Check the compost before watering instead of following a rigid calendar, since light, temperature, pot size and season all affect how quickly it dries. During slower growth, reduce watering and wait longer between drinks.
How to propagate
Divide offsets from the base at repotting time. Propagation is most reliable during the plant's active growing season, when warmth and good light help new roots establish. Start with clean tools and healthy material, and keep the new plant in conditions appropriate for the parent.
Where a cutting or division creates a wound, allow the surface to dry before planting unless the method calls for immediate rooting in water or moist mix. Once roots form and fresh growth appears, gradually move the young Cooper's Haworthia into its normal watering routine; excess moisture is especially risky while the root system is still small.
Cultivation
Quick tips for care & planting
- Light
- Bright indirect light. Avoid harsh midday sun.
- Water
- Sparingly — every two to three weeks when soil is dry.
- Soil
- Mineral-rich mix with pumice and sand.
- Temperature
- 10–27°C. Frost-tender.
- Propagation
- Divide offsets from the base at repotting time.