Succulents are some of the easiest houseplants you can grow, and they come in so many fun colors and shapes that they're hard to resist. Our latest crush is Conophytum bilobum, an adorable succulent that grows tiny, plump, heart-shaped leaves. Also called "living pebbles," this succulent is native to South Africa but happily grows in dish gardens and as a houseplant. All you need to grow this sweet little plant is soil with good drainage and a bright, sunny spot. This drought-tolerant succulent won't even mind if you forget to water it for a few weeks.
A living pebbles plant is similar to sweetheart hoya, another easy-to-grow, heart-shaped succulent. However, unlike sweetheart hoya—which eventually grows vining stems with lots of smaller heart-shaped leaves spread out along its length—living pebbles plant slowly spreads and produces a small cluster of hearts. If you want more succulents, gently break off and propagate the individual hearts by planting them in new pots.
To grow a living pebbles plant, use a cactus and succulent potting mix ($21, Walmart) and a pot with a drainage hole. Like most succulents, they can go without water for quite a while. However, they don't appreciate constant dampness, so only water when the soil feels dry. If you see tiny wrinkles forming on the leaves, your succulent is starting to dry out, and it's definitely time for a drink.
Not all succulents grown as houseplants can tolerate direct sunlight, but living pebbles prefers it. Try placing your plant in a south- or west-facing window where it can soak up the direct sun for the last few hours of the day. If you keep your plant happy, it may even produce tiny yellow or orange flowers in the fall. They'll sprout from the center of each heart and bloom over the leaves, making your plant even cuter for a few weeks.
Living pebbles can be tough to find, but a few sellers will ship the plant (or the seeds) to your door. If you end up trying to grow this plant from seed, be sure to follow the package directions for sprouting them and make sure they have plenty of light and enough water to germinate.
If you're lucky enough to score one of these adorable plants, it'll add plenty of love to your home without much effort on your part. Just water it now and then, and it will reward you with adorable heart-shaped leaves and tiny, cheery blooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does it take to grow Conophytum bilobum from seed?This heart-shaped succulent requires warm temperatures of about 65°F to 75°F to germinate. It also needs adequate moisture and indirect or filtered light. On average, it takes two to four weeks for seeds to germinate and growth to appear.
This heart-shaped succulent requires warm temperatures of about 65°F to 75°F to germinate. It also needs adequate moisture and indirect or filtered light. On average, it takes two to four weeks for seeds to germinate and growth to appear.
- How big does Conophytum bilobum grow?This tiny succulent reaches a height of 3 inches at maturity.
This tiny succulent reaches a height of 3 inches at maturity.
- The leaves of my Conophytum bilobum are shriveling. What's wrong?This succulent goes dormant during the summer months, and its leaves shrivel right before that happens. Don't water the plant during the summer. Even though its leaves turn brown during dormancy, they aren't dead, and the plant will rebound. If it isn't summer and the leaves of your succulent shrivel, the cause is likely insufficient water.
This succulent goes dormant during the summer months, and its leaves shrivel right before that happens. Don't water the plant during the summer. Even though its leaves turn brown during dormancy, they aren't dead, and the plant will rebound. If it isn't summer and the leaves of your succulent shrivel, the cause is likely insufficient water.