Scientific Name
Crassula dependens Bolus
Synonym(s)
Crassula harveyi var. dependens
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Origin
Crassula dependens is native to South Africa and Namibia.
Description
Crassula dependens is a succulent plant with decumbent to prostrate, moderately branched stems that bear fleshy, green, lance-shaped leaves. It can grow up to 2 inches (5 cm) tall. The young branches are covered with hair-like papillae, while the old ones have brown bark.
The flowers are small, white or cream-colored, tubular, and appear on short stalks from mid-summer to early fall. The petal lobes have triangular, recurving tips and tiny ridges on their outside surfaces. The dark anthers can be seen in the flower mouth. Green sepals with acute tips envelop the corolla.
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 being 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, 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 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
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