Lithops & Stone Plant Seeds

Oreshka carries 62 varieties across three groups: individually referenced Lithops species with collector C-numbers and SB-numbers (bromfieldii, hallii, hookeri, karasmontana, pseudotruncatella, fulviceps, terricolor, verruculosa, julii, and more), multi-species Lithops mix packs for beginners, and allied mesembs — Titanopsis calcarea, Titanopsis schwantesii, Dinteranthus microspermus, Dinteranthus vanzylii, and Pleiospilos bolusii. All packs start from €4.25.

Lithops bromfieldii and Lithops karasmontana are the most forgiving for first-time growers — both germinate in 7–14 days at 25–30°C and tolerate minor watering inconsistencies better than more sensitive taxa. The Exquisite Lithops Mix (SC42) is also a practical choice: you sow multiple species in one tray and compare growth patterns side by side without committing to a single variety.

Yes — Lithops are strictly indoor container plants in temperate climates and do not require outdoor conditions. They need at least 4–6 hours of direct sun per day (or a 6500K LED grow light at 15–20 cm distance), temperatures above 10°C year-round, and a mineral substrate with at least 70% grit. Collectors in the UK, Germany, and Scandinavia grow full collections on south-facing windowsills.

Both are South African mesembs that camouflage as stones, but they are separate genera. Lithops have smooth or patterned flat-topped leaf pairs with a central fissure, and bloom from that split in autumn. Titanopsis calcarea has rougher, warty leaf surfaces coated in calcium-like tubercles, making them resemble limestone fragments. Titanopsis also tolerates slightly more frequent watering than Lithops during the active growing season.

Yes — Lithops spend their entire life in containers. A standard pot of 8–10 cm diameter with drainage holes, filled with 70–80% coarse mineral grit (pumice or perlite) and 20–30% cactus compost, suits most species. Individual plants grow 2–4 cm across and rarely need repotting more than once every 3–4 years. Groups of 3–5 plants in a shallow clay bowl are a common display format.

Lithops typically bloom for the first time after 3–5 years from seed, producing yellow or white daisy-like flowers in autumn (September–November in the Northern Hemisphere). The plant must complete at least 2–3 annual leaf-pair replacement cycles before reaching blooming size (approximately 2–4 cm diameter). Species such as Lithops lesliei and Lithops bromfieldii are known to flower relatively reliably once mature.

C-numbers (Cole numbers) are collector reference codes from the definitive monograph “Lithops — Flowering Stones” by Desmond and Naureen Cole. Each number identifies a specific population collected at a documented GPS location in southern Africa. SB-numbers are field-collection codes from Steven Brack. Buying seeds listed with these reference numbers means you can trace the exact origin of the plant, which matters for species purity and scientific accuracy.

Local garden centres rarely carry individually referenced Lithops taxa. Oreshka stocks 50+ named varieties with documented C-numbers and SB-numbers — Lithops hallii C-094, L. pseudotruncatella C-099, L. karasmontana v. lericheana C-193, and others — plus rarer allied genera such as Dinteranthus vanzylii PV-644 and Pleiospilos bolusii. Seeds are packed in sealed moisture-proof envelopes and dispatched within 2–3 business days worldwide from €4.25 per pack.