← Species • Family: Aizoaceae 🐾 Pet-Safe

Karas Mountains Living Stone (Lithops karasmontana)

Lithops karasmontana

Karas Mountains Living Stone (Lithops karasmontana)

Native to the Great Karas Mountains of Namibia, Lithops karasmontana is a master of camouflage featuring intricate, marble-like fissured window patterns that mimic local quartzite stones. In autumn, solitary, pure white daisy-like flowers emerge elegantly from the central fissure between its paired succulent leaves. It adheres to a strict annual growth cycle, absorbing water and nutrients from its old leaves to produce a fresh inner leaf pair.

📋 Core Botanical Care Parameters

☀️ Light Requirements

Requires at least 5-6 hours of bright direct or lightly filtered sunlight daily; insufficient light causes unnatural elongation and loss of marbling.

💧 Watering Frequency

Soak thoroughly only during active growth in late spring and autumn; strictly withhold water during winter leaf-splitting and mid-summer dormancy.

🏺 Soil Mix

80% pumice, zeolite, lava rock, and coarse quartz grit + 20% organic cactus soil.

❄️ Cold Tolerance

0°C (USDA Zone 10a)

🌱 Propagation Method

Seed sowing (most reliable method) or careful division of multi-headed clusters with attached roots.

🐾 Pet Safety

This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs and safe for pet-friendly homes.

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Watering Method: Bottom Watering (Immersion)
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Never water until at least 80% of soil is completely dry!

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Living Pebble (Conophytum bilobum)

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Botanical Tip of the Day Verified Botanical Fact

Wait until soil is completely dry: Succulents perish from overwatering, rarely from drought! 🌿