Crassula columella | World of Succulents

Scientific Name

Crassula columella Marloth & Schönland

Common Names

Silinderplakkie (Afrikaans)

Scientific Classification

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula

Description

Crassula columella is a very fascinating succulent plant that grows very slowly and compact. It is a perennials with short upright stems that grows in tight clumps with a few branches from base or at top. The stems are completely coated by the close-pressed leaves that form a 4-angled, fat, compact, velvety column up to 0.8 inch (2 cm) in diameter and up to 6 inches (15 cm) in height. The flower head is a loose globular thyrse with a hairy peduncle up to 2 inches (5 cm) long. The flowers are small and greenish-white in color.

Photo via crassulaceae.ch

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 Crassula 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.

Crassula are generally started by division, offsets or leaf cuttings. Plants can be easily propagated from a single leaf: sprout leaves by placing them into a succulent or cacti mix, then covering the dish until they sprout. Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season.

To repot a succulent, 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… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Crassula.