Gasteria is a small genus of hardy Southern African plants. They are commonly known as “beestong” (Afrikaans) which translates to Ox Tongue, named for its rough textured strap-shaped leaves.

There are about 30 recognised species and are predominantly found in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, but also known from the Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. The genus is nearly endemic to South Africa, but is also recorded from Namibia and Swaziland.

With an array of shapes, sizes, textures and colourations, it makes them ideal plants for breeding. Gasteria species also readily hybridizes with species of other genera like Aloe, Astroloba and Haworthia, producing a range of attractive intergeneric hybrids