• Photo of Gasteria obliqua (Gasteria obliquas)

Plant Profile: Gasteria obliqua

Names

Lawyer's Tongue, Ox Tongue

  • Photo of Gasteria obliqua (Gasteria obliquas)

Phonetic Spelling:gas-TEER-ee-uh oh-BLEEK-wuh

Genus:Gasteria

Species:gracilis

Family:Asphodelaceae

Ox Tongue is a compact succulent native to South Africa, characterized by its fleshy, stemless leaves that create a rosette shape. The leaves are a rich green adorned with white speckles. In winter and spring, it produces long stems that bear bi-colored tubular flowers that dangle gracefully. When cultivated in a pot, this plant typically reaches a height of about 6 inches, although it can grow larger in its natural environment.

For optimal growth, plant Ox Tongue in pots equipped with multiple drainage holes, using a soil mix designed for cacti and succulents. During the summer months, it can be placed outdoors, but it’s important to shield it from the intense afternoon sun. Unlike many other succulents, it can thrive in partial shade. When kept indoors, ensure it receives bright light and allow the soil to dry out completely between watering sessions.

Gasteria obliqua Feature Summary

Gasteria obliqua Image Gallery

Tags

#houseplant
#succulent
#slow growing
#interiorscape
#varigated
#container plants

Similar Plants

Gasteria obliqua Feature Summary

Flowers
Long stems with dangling tubular bi-colored flowers generally in late winter to early spring.
Pink
Red/Burgundy
Green
Orange
Spring
Winter
Tubular
Bell
Leaves
Thick stemless succulent leaves in a rosette that often have speckles.
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Houseplant
Succulent
Erect
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Less than 12 inches
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Small groups
Container
Houseplants

Gasteria obliqua Attributes

Gasteria obliqua: Country Or Region Of Origin

South Africa

Gasteria obliqua: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Gasteria obliqua: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Gasteria obliqua Flowers

Gasteria obliqua: Flower Description

Long stems with dangling tubular bi-colored flowers generally in late winter to early spring.

Gasteria obliqua: Flower Color

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Green
filter_vintage
Orange
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Pink
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Gasteria obliqua: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Gasteria obliqua: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Gasteria obliqua: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Gasteria obliqua Leaves

Gasteria obliqua: Leaf Description

Thick stemless succulent leaves in a rosette that often have speckles.

Gasteria obliqua: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Gasteria obliqua: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Gasteria obliqua: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Gasteria obliqua: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Gasteria obliqua: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Gasteria obliqua: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Gasteria obliqua: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Gasteria obliqua: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Gasteria obliqua: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Gasteria obliqua: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Gasteria obliqua Whole Plant Traits

Gasteria obliqua: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Gasteria obliqua: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Gasteria obliqua: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Gasteria obliqua: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Gasteria obliqua: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Gasteria obliqua Cultural Conditions

Gasteria obliqua: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Gasteria obliqua: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Gasteria obliqua: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Gasteria obliqua: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
12a
thermostat
12b

Gasteria obliqua Stem

Gasteria obliqua: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Gasteria obliqua Landscape

Gasteria obliqua: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Gasteria obliqua: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Gasteria obliqua: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland