The pearl plant is a small, slow-growing succulent native to South Africa and member of the day lily family (Asphodelaceae). The genus Tulista was formerly included within Haworthia (q.v. for a discussion of the differences between the genera). The specific epithet, pumila , means "dwarf," which made sense when it was treated as a species of Aloe. Ironically, this species is the largest species of Tulista . This plant will tolerate full sun but prefers partial shade. Grow these plants in a well-drained, cactus or succulent potting medium. Pearl plants prefer warm temperatures during the summer and cool winters. It is hardy to USDA zones 10a to 11b and will tolerate temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow the top of the soil to dry out between waterings. The plant is propagated by seeds and offsets. The pearl plant is grown more for its showy leaves than for its flowers. The pearl plant forms a rosette of thick, fleshy, olive-green to dark brownish-green leaves that are covered in white tubercles. The plant measures 2 to 8 inches tall and 2 to 6 inches wide. The leaves measure almost 6 inches long and about 1-inch wide. They are triangular to broadly lanceolate, erect, but sometimes curved. The flowers bloom in the summer and are waxy, green to brownish-white and grow on thin stalks measuring up to 16 inches long. This small, low-maintenance plant makes an attractive miniature succulent to display in your kitchen window. In warmer climates, it may be grown outdoors in a rock garden. This plant is non-toxic to animals and humans. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It is generally disease free but is susceptible to mealybugs.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 8 in. | Width: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Deltoid; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Rough
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Upright triangular leaves are sometimes incurved and green to brownish green with raised white tubercles and grow up to 5.5 inches long and up to 1 inch wide. They form a small rosette.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Insignificant; White
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers bloom during the summer and are tubular, brownish-white, and appear on thin, long stalks.
Bloom time
Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southwest Cape Provinces of South Africa
Distribution
Cape Provinces of South Africa
Wildlife value
Attracts pollinators such as bees, moths, and bumble bees.