Scientific Name
Crassula columella Marloth & Schönland
Common Names
Silinderplakkie (Afrikaans)
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Description
Crassula columella is a fascinating, slow-growing succulent with short, upright stems. It 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 6 inches (15 cm) tall and up to 0.8 inch (2 cm) in diameter. 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 by Mateo Lichtenstein
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Crassulas 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.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Crassula.
Origin
Crassula columella is native to South Africa.
Subspecies, Varieties, Forms, Cultivars and Hybrids
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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