Scientific Name
Crassula ericoides Haw.
Common Name(s)
Large Whipcord
Synonym(s)
Crassula ericoides subsp. ericoides, Creusa ericoides, Sedum ericodes
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Origin
Crassula ericoides is native to South Africa. It grows on dry, rocky slopes from Cape Hangklip in Western Cape to KwaZulu-Natal.
Description
Crassula ericoides is a small, sparingly to moderately branched succulent shrub with erect, rarely decumbent, or prostrate branches with green, lanceolate or ovate leaves. It can grow up to 10 inches (25 cm) tall, often much-branched towards the apex. The older branches have brown bark peeling in horizontal strips. The leaves can measure up to 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) long and 0.1 inches 0.2 cm) wide. The old leaves are usually deciduous.
The flowers are tubular, white to cream-colored, and appear in clusters at the tip of the branches 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 being too dry rather than too wet. Never let your plant sit in water. If you water from beneath by allowing the plant to 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 cover 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.
See 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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