Just one of many available miniature, globe-shaped cacti with spines on regular shelves, or “chins.” This one produces chartreuse flowers bigger than its body, starts to bloom while quite young.
Haworthia Liliaceae
Tight pinwheels of thick, pointed leaves intricately studded with varied patterns of pearly pinheads. The whitish flowers are not a main feature.
fasciata—Zebra-striped succulent often seen in dish gardens.
margaritifera—Slightly larger, dark green with a more scattered pattern of white dots.
Kalanchoe Crassulaceae
Among these congenial succulents are several that grow to considerable size in their native homes, but keep pleasantly small in pots or dish gardens. The leaves are fleshy, with indentations along the edge. Lantern-shaped flowers appear in winter.
blossfeldiana—Well-branched bush with overlapping, fresh green leaves, flowering in winter when days are short and nights are long. ‘Tom Thumb’ is a dwarf variety that smothers itself with scarlet blooms for Christmas. Greenhouses grow it from seeds sown in spring, and so can you.
marmorata—penwiper plant—Leaves fold in around the stem and are spattered on both sides with purple blotches.
pumila—Leaves like a doll’s spoon, notched on the edge and sugar-frosted; plum-colored pitcher flowers.