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G. pulchra is a very decorative, tall, succulent with long sword-shaped, marbled foliage.
 

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Scientific name:  Gasteria pulchra (Ait.) Haw.

Common English Names include: Cow Tongue
 

Description: G. pulchra is a very decorative, tall, narrow shrubby succulent with long finger-like, marbled foliage. Will form a tight clump.
Stem: Very sort (subacaulescent)
Leaves: Sub-distichous, usually almost vertical, 20-30 cm tall, narrow 0,5-2,5 cm in diameter, rigid, straight, linear, ensiform/acinaciform. The leaves in section are unevenly triangular. They are glabrous, glossy, smooth to the touch, grey-green to dark green and beautifully marbled with conspicuous bright creamy-white spots that frequently merge giving a even more brighter appearance. Apex attenuated, acute/mucronate.
Flowers: Orange to pinkish-red born on an erect inflorescence up to 150 cm tall, the petals have a greener mid strip.
Blooming season: July - August.

Gasteria pulchra resembles Gasteria acinacifolia which has much taller leaves and an inflorescence not so erect.
 

Cultivation: They are of easy culture which makes them a good houseplant and can be an excellent subject for the beginning gasteriaphile (it can grow easily on window sills, verandas and in miniature succulent gardens where they are happy to share their habitat with other smaller succulent plants, or in outdoor rockeries) Need light shade to shade, but will take full sun part of the day. (with some sun exposure the leaf develops a nice reddish tint and remain compact) They are tolerant of a wide range of soils and habitats, but prefer a very porous potting mix to increase drainage. During the hot summer months, the soil should be kept moist but not overly wet. The plants are fertilized only once during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ the recommended strength. During the winter months, water only when the soil becomes completely dry. Frost hardy to -1°C (Or less). Gasteria pulchra is among the rather limited number of plants which can hold their own in overheated apartments and homes.

Propagation: Gasteria is easily propagated by the removal of offshoots or by leaf cuttings in spring or summer. To propagate by leaf cuttings, remove a leaf and let it lie for about one month, giving the wound time to heal. Then lay the leaf on its side with the basal part buried in the soil. This leaf should root within a month or two, and small plants will form at the leaf base. They can also grown from seed.

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.