Living stones

At the back of the succulent house, in the direction of the tropical house, you can glance through a window to gain a glimpse of the interior of the succulent houses. There are also three showcases in the immediate vicinity in which various succulents are displayed, including the ‘living stones’.

Various genera of the Aizoaceae family are on display, including Lithops, Conophytum and Pleiospilos. These plants have developed astonishing strategies to survive in locations that are not easily colonised by plants.

Their rounded growth form minimises the surface area of the plant and thus provides maximum protection against evaporation. The pronounced pattern on the front of their leaves makes the plants resemble the surrounding soil and renders them barely visible to herbivores. The formation of taproots enables them to tap into water reserves deeper in the soil.