All you wanted to know about Haworthias, Gasterias and Astrolobas: Haworthia floribunda

H. floribunda, Platkop

Haworthia floribunda V.Poelln.

floribunda: many-flowered

H. floribunda is small, stemless plant with dark green ovate-lanceolate leaves. Leave margins are scabrid to dentate. Leaves are twisted with flattened rounded tip. It is slowly proliferous species. It grows well shaded amongs grass or lichen and moss, similar to H. parksiana. It is always quite a challenge to find in nature, they are usually very well camouflaged and very small.

Distribution map

H. floribunda grows in the area from Swellendam in the West, Potberg in the South and Albertinia in the East. In the East it is connected to H. parksiana and H. chloracantha. This eastern form was described by Bruce Bayer as var. dentata. At Herbetsdale I have observed populations which resembled in one hand H. chloracantha and in the other hand H. floribunda. I will publish some photos later. In the West of Swellendam was described again by Bruce Bayer new variety major. In the South, at Potberg is growing a "form" in between of H. maraisii and H. floribunda. This form was described by Hayashi as H. henda. In my opinion henda there are more probably hybrids of maraisii and variegata var. hemicrypta, which occurs around - there no floribunda localities around. Very interesting form occurs at Dassieklip, these are very proliferous with much thinner leaves, which looks almost like H. chloracantha var. denticulifera from Mossel Bay area.

Haworthia floribunda, Bosgasiekop

At some places it hybrides with other Haworthia species - N. Heidelberg, at the type locality, are known hybrids with H. turgida. At Cooper Station is reported hybrid with H. pygmaea var. argenteo-maculosa. At Korinte road is growing a hybrid between H. floribunda and H. retusa. Around Riversdale are hybrids with H. magnifica var. atrofusca, as well as at locality for H. magnifica var. splendens W of Albertinia are very atractive hybrids of both species. Near Swellendam hybrids with maraisii were reported too.

H. floribunda in cultivation is not difficult, just be careful with too much water. It needs a bit shady conditions. Propagation can by done by offsetts or seed.

Haworthia floribunda, Klipdrif

Known localities: