Scientific Name
Crassula expansa subsp. fragilis (Bak.) Toelken
Synonym(s)
Crassula fragilis, Crassula browniana, Crassula thorncroftii, Crassula woodii, Crassula zimmermannii
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Origin
Crassula expansa subsp. fragilis is found in northern and eastern Transvaal, Swaziland, northern Natal, and north Eastern Cape province, as well as in tropical Africa as far north as Tanzania and Madagascar.
Description
Crassula expansa subsp. fragilis is a low-growing succulent with slender stems and masses of tiny fleshy leaves. It can grow up to 10 inches (25 cm) tall with a spread of up to 20 inches (50 cm). The leaves are flattened discs, sometimes slightly elliptic or obovate. While the leaves are fresh to pale green, the stems are pinkish to maroon. Fine whitish hairs may be scattered along the leaf and stem surfaces.
The flowers are tiny, white, star-shaped, usually 5-petalled, and produced on the tangled cushion of slender stems and small leaves. Typically, they appear from mid-summer to fall.
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 a saucer, 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 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.
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
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
