Crassula barbata (Bearded-leaved Crassula)

Scientific Name

Crassula barbata Thunb.

Common Names

Bearded-leaved Crassula

Synonyms

Crassula barbata subsp. barbata, Crassula lettyae, Purgosea barbata

Scientific Classification

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula

Description

Crassula barbata is a biennial or annual, rosette-forming succulent up to 1 foot (30 cm) tall when flowering. It is usually with one rosette with leaves spirally arranged and old ones remaining attached to stems. The leaves are up to 2 inches (5 cm) long, up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) wide, glabrous but characteristically bearded along the truncate apex with long, white, spreading hairs. The spikes of small, white to pinkish flowers appear in spring. The rosette will open up as the center extends to form the tall flower stem and after flowering it will die. Fortunately the dying rosette usually produces a number of basal rosettes which can be detached and grown on to repeat the cycle.

Hardiness

It is grown as an annual plant, so it has no USDA hardiness zone.

How to Grow and Care

Crassula are easy to grow, but they are susceptible to mealy bugs 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 letting the plant 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 covering the dish until they sprout.

Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot your Crassula, make sure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, making sure to remove any rotted or dead roots in the process. Treat any cuts with a fungicide. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting soil, spreading the roots out as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Crassula

Origin

Crassula barbata is native to South Africa (south-western Great Karoo to Prince Albert, also Victoria West in the Central Karoo).

Links

• Back to genus Crassula
• Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus

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