Ox Tongue 'Little Warty'

Actually, wait—'Little Warty' is on the exclude list. Let me provide: **Gasteria carinata var. verrucosa**. Known as the Warty Gasteria, this species is a classic succulent for UK indoor cultivation or summer patio displays. It is distinguished by its long, strap-shaped, dark green leaves that grow in a distichous (two-ranked) fashion when young, eventually forming a rosette. The leaves are densely covered in small, white, raised tubercles, giving them a sandpaper-like texture. In spring, it produces arching racemes of beautiful, stomach-shaped (gasteriform) flowers that are typically bicoloured in pink and green. Hardy only to H2, it must be kept indoors during the winter. It is particularly valued because it is many times more shade-tolerant than other succulents, making it ideal for bright windowsills that don't receive direct midday sun. It is slow-growing and very resilient to neglect, only requiring occasional watering when the soil feels bone dry. Avoid overpotting, as it prefers to have its roots slightly restricted.

Sun: Partial shade.

Soil: Well-drained cacti & succulent mix.

Hardiness: H2 — down to 1°C.

Flowering: Mar, Apr, May.