How often should I water my Lithops?

Water very sparingly, only when the plant shows signs of shriveling, and never during its winter dormancy.

Why is my plant splitting?

Splitting is a natural part of their growth cycle where the old leaves are replaced by a new pair.

Plant guide

Living stones.

Lithops lesliei

Pronounced LITH-ops LES-lee-eye

Lithops lesliei — Photo by Andrew Hankey (CC BY-SA) via iNaturalist

These fascinating succulents mimic pebbles to hide from hungry animals in their native South African home. They grow in pairs of thick, fleshy leaves that split to reveal new growth. You will love watching them bloom with daisy like flowers in the autumn.

Another photo of Living stones — Photo by Clifford Davel (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Succulent
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 14 to 30 days
Mature size: 2 to 5 centimeters
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Late summer to mid autumn

Care

Always let the soil dry out completely between waterings to prevent the leaves from rotting. Watch for the leaves to wrinkle slightly as a sign they need a drink. Avoid watering during the winter dormancy period to keep your plant healthy.

Watering: Water sparingly and only when the soil is bone dry.
Feeding: Use a low nitrogen succulent fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Only remove dead or shriveled leaves once they have completely dried up.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant has completely filled its container.
Soil: Well draining cactus mix with extra grit
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 5 to 35°C
Humidity: 10 to 40%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for decades with proper care.
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

The plant has filled the entire pot.
The soil has broken down and no longer drains well.

Safety

People: Lithops are generally considered non-toxic to humans.
Pets: Lithops are generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The small size and pebble-like appearance may pose a choking hazard to small children.
Edibility: This plant is not considered food and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Two thick stone like leaves
Top surface features intricate patterns
Small daisy like yellow flowers
Deep taproot system
Dormant during hot summer months

Height: 0.02 to 0.05m
Spread: 0.02 to 0.08m
Leaves: brown, grey, green, succulent
Flowers: yellow, 2 to 4cm
Fruit: brown, winter

Problems to watch for

Root RotCommon
MealybugsUncommon
Soft RotUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: Keep the plant completely dry and in a cool, bright location throughout the winter months. Do not water until the old leaves have fully withered in spring.
In containers: They are excellent in small pots, but ensure the container has drainage holes and use a very gritty soil mix.

Seed

Sow seeds on the surface of a fine, sandy, well draining substrate.
Keep the soil lightly moist and covered with plastic to maintain humidity until germination.
Gradually introduce airflow once the seedlings emerge.
Wait until the seedlings are at least one year old before reducing water to adult levels.

Group them with other slow growing succulents that require very little water to prevent accidental overwatering.

Grows well with

Split Rock · They share similar water and light requirements.
Tiger Jaws · Both are drought tolerant succulents that thrive in gritty soil.

Similar species

Living Granite · It has a similar growth habit and appearance.

Science

Family: Aizoaceae
Genus: Lithops
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southern Africa
Conservation: This species is protected in parts of its native range due to over-collection by enthusiasts.

They survive by burying most of their body in the soil to reduce water loss and avoid intense sun.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: ornamental, collector plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 1/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How often should I water my Lithops?: Water very sparingly, only when the plant shows signs of shriveling, and never during its winter dormancy.
Why is my plant splitting?: Splitting is a natural part of their growth cycle where the old leaves are replaced by a new pair.

Where the name comes from

The name Lithops is derived from the Greek words lithos, meaning stone, and ops, meaning face or appearance. The specific epithet lesliei honors T.N. Leslie, a South African botanist who discovered the species.

Good to know

They are commonly called living stones.
The name Lithops comes from the Greek words for stone and appearance.
They only have two leaves that split to reveal new growth.
They are perfectly adapted to survive in extremely arid environments.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.