Scientific Name
Crassula 'Alice Herbert'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Etymology
Max Holmes named this hybrid in memory of Mrs. Alice Herbert, a valued member of the Geelong Cactus and Succulent Club who died in 1995.
Origin
Crassula 'Alice Herbert' is a hybrid created by Max Holmes of Strathalbyn, Australia. It results from a cross between Crassula tomentosa var. tomentosa and Crassula 'Coralita'.
Description
Crassula 'Alice Herbert' is a small, slow-growing succulent that forms a cluster of stemless rosettes, producing offsets at the base of the plant and the base of the flower stems after flowering. The leaves are rounded, flat or slightly concave on the upper surface, slightly convex on the lower surface, and can measure up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long, 1.2 inches (3 cm) wide, and 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) thick. They are green, covered with stubby, recurved hairs, giving them a grey appearance.
The flowers are very pale pink, shading to pale yellow in the throat, and appear in winter in dense clusters on stalks covered with short hairs similar to those on the leaves. The flower stalks can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) tall.
How to Grow and Care for Crassula 'Alice Herbert'
Light: C. 'Alice Herbert' prefers full sun to partial shade. However, intense afternoon sun in the hottest period of summer can burn the leaves of the plant. Therefore, a place with morning sun and afternoon shade would be perfect. Indoors, place your plants in a window where they receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Soil: This plant is not particular about soil pH but requires very porous soil with excellent drainage. Use commercial potting soil mixes designated for use with succulents, or mix your own.
Hardiness: Like most Crassulas, this succulent will tolerate some short-term freezing, but extremes of cold or heat will cause it to lose leaves and die. C. 'Alice Herbert' can withstand temperatures as low as 30 to 50 °F (-1.1 to 10 °C), USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b.
Watering: Avoid overwatering using the "soak and dry" method, where the soil is soaked with water, slowly drained, and left to dry out before watering again. Reduce watering in winter. Potted plants require more frequent watering than those in the ground.
Fertilizing: C. 'Alice Herbert' does not need much feeding but will benefit from a small amount of organic fertilizer in mid-spring when it starts actively growing.
Repotting: Repot as needed, preferably in spring, at the beginning of the growing season. Make sure the soil is dry before you begin repotting.
Propagation: This succulent is generally started by leaves or stem cuttings. It can also be grown from seeds and offsets. The easiest way is to propagate C. 'Alice Herbert' from a single leaf, while using stem cuttings is the fastest way to get a decent-sized plant. These processes are most successful at the beginning of the plant's active growth period. Sow the seeds in the spring or summer. Propagating by dividing offsets is easy because the parent plant has already done most of the work for you.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Crassula.
Toxicity of Crassula 'Alice Herbert'
C. 'Alice Herbert' is nontoxic to people and pets.
Links
- Back to genus Crassula
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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