Species library › Haworthia › Haworthia arachnoidea
Succulents Well documented

Haworthia arachnoidea

A small, variable haworthia whose dense rosettes of dark green leaves are wrapped in fine, translucent bristles like cobwebs. It grows across the western half of South Africa's Cape, from Namaqualand south to the Breede River valley and east towards Port Elizabeth, tucked under shrubs and against rocks on dry slopes. It grows in the cool, moist months and shrinks and pulls in its leaves during the hot, dry summer.

At home, aim for
Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry
Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Rocky hill and mountain slopes, ridges and cliff crevices in succulent Karoo, renosterveld and dry fynbos, often on shale or sandstone. Plants usually sit in the shelter of rocks and shrubs, frequently on cooler south-facing slopes, rather than fully exposed. In dry summers the rosettes dry and contract.

Few records carry an elevation; specimen labels mention about 370 m and 670 m (2200 ft). The range runs from the lowlands of the Breede and Little Karoo valleys to mountain slopes, probably from roughly 100 m to over 1000 m.

South Africa, Northern Cape: Namaqualand and the RichtersveldSouth Africa, Western Cape: Breede River valley (Worcester, Robertson), Overberg and Little KarooSouth Africa, Eastern Cape: west of Port Elizabeth

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.