Scientific Name
Crassula 'Blue Bird'
Accepted Scientific Name
Crassula arborescens subsp. undulatifolia Toelken
Synonym(s)
Crassula arborescens 'Blue Bird', Crassula arborescens subsp. undulatifolia 'Blue Bird', Crassula portulacea 'Blauwe Vogel'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Origin
Crassula 'Blue Bird' is a form of Crassula arborescens subsp. undulatifolia.
Description
Crassula 'Blue Bird' was introduced and described by Boudewijn Karel Boom in the Dutch journal Succulenta in 1963 as Crassula portulacea 'Blauwe Vogel' (meaning "blue bird") and was long thought to be a hybrid of Crassula ovata and Crassula arborescens. After Toelken had received the leaves and inflorescences of this supposed hybrid, he explained that it is identical to the plant he had described as Crassula arborescens subsp. undulatifolia. Therefore, Crassula 'Blue Bird' is the same as Crassula arborescens subsp. undulatifolia, a subspecies with two somewhat different forms in cultivation.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25°F (-3.9°C) to 50°F (10°C).
How to Grow and Care
Crassulas are easy to grow but susceptible to mealybugs and fungal diseases. As with all succulents, overwatering is sure to be fatal, so err on the side of too dry rather than too wet. Never let your plant sit in water. If you water from beneath by allowing the plant to sit in a saucer of water, make sure to pour off any excess water after a few minutes.
These succulents are generally started by division, offsets, or leaf cuttings. Crassulas can be easily propagated from a single leaf. Sprout leaves by placing them into a potting mix for succulents, then cover the dish until they sprout.
Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot your Crassula, ensure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, removing any rotted or dead roots. Treat any cuts with a fungicide. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting soil, spreading the roots as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Crassula.
Links
- Back to genus Crassula
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
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