Ox-tongue - Gasteria bicolor
Ox-tongue - Gasteria bicolor

Common names: ox-tongue, thicket ox-tongue (English); beestong (Afrikaans). 
Botanical name: Gasteria bicolor

The dwarf ox-tongue, Gasteria bicolor, is a small succulent forming dense clumps of rosettes under 25mm tall. Its mottled strap-shaped leaves camouflage it amidst rocks and thickets. Pink-orange flowers on tall stalks bloom in winter and spring. Rare but not threatened, it thrives in arid areas with summer rainfall. Drought tolerant yet cold sensitive, provide well-drained soil and bright shade. Propagate by division, leaf cuttings or seeds. Flowers are edible and plants are used in traditional medicine.

Uses & Benefits: food, indoor, pot plant

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Nature & Cultivation

Family: Asphodelaceae
Type: succulent
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Flower colour: orange, pink
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Plant-animal interactions: birds
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Use as Medicine

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