Crassula cornuta

Scientific Name

Crassula cornuta Schönland & Baker f.

Accepted Scientific Name

Crassula deceptor Schönland & Baker f.

Scientific Classification

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula

Description

Crassula cornuta is a small succulent with silvery-grey leaves that fit tightly together, hiding the stem and making a distinctive column. It can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall.

The flowers are tiny and creamy to pinkish. They appear at every time of the year when conditions are appropriate, but mainly in winter.

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 mealy bugs and fungal diseases. Overwatering is sure to be fatal, as with all succulents, 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 water, ensure you 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, 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 it 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 cornuta is a variable plant lumped under Crassula deceptor. Still, it often keeps the original name in cultivation to avoid confusion with Crassula deceptor, which is also a very variable plant. Crassula cornuta usually has almost white leaves, which are longer and more angular, while Crassula deceptor has rounded, grayer leaves. However, there is a series of transitional forms, and it is almost impossible to tell them apart, so now they are all synonymized with Crassula deceptor.