Haworthia cooperi aka Jelly Bean Cactus

Haworthia cooperi is a small, evergreen succulent from South Africa. Its native range includes the Eastern Cape. It belongs to the Asphodelaceae family and lives for many years. Gardeners also call it Cooper's haworthia or window haworthia. It grows in low, tight clumps rather than tall stems. In cultivation, it reaches about 0.33 feet [0.1 metres] high and wide. Growth is slow, with mature size taking five to ten years.

The fleshy leaves form rosettes close to the ground. In the wild, much of each rosette sits below ground. A short stem lies beneath the soil surface. Clear leaf tips let light reach the buried leaf tissue. This allows those buried parts to make food through photosynthesis. The soil also helps keep the leaves cool in summer. Each rosette holds about 20 to 40 leaves. Their colour ranges from pale green to grey-green or blue-green. Some leaves show dark lines along their length.

Leaf shape varies, from rounded to triangular or narrow and pointed. The RHS gives leaf lengths up to 0.16 feet [0.05 metres]. Small bristles or teeth may edge the leaves and keels. Some plants have smooth edges instead. Too much sun or too little water can turn leaves red. Flowers appear in spring or summer, well above the foliage. Their stems can reach 1.31 feet [0.4 metres] long. The narrow blooms range from white to white with pink tones. They grow along a raceme, with many flowers on each stalk.

Grow this plant under glass in bright, full light. The RHS lists full sun and a sheltered site. Use cactus compost that lets excess water drain away. Suitable soils include sand and loam, with neutral or alkaline pH. Keep the air low in humidity. Water well during growth, then keep the compost only slightly damp. Feed every two weeks in late spring and summer. Use a weak fertiliser with little nitrogen. Its RHS hardiness rating is H2, so it cannot survive freezing. It can spend summer outdoors.

Its small size suits pots, patios, and greenhouse collections. The clear leaf tips provide much of its visual interest. It needs no pruning, and gardeners can raise more from offsets or seed. Mealybugs may attack it, though the RHS reports few disease problems. The supplied sources do not establish whether it is edible. They also provide no species-level evidence about toxicity.