Scientific Name
Crassula namaquensis Schönland & Baker f.
Common Name(s)
Namaqua Crassula
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Etymology
The generic name "Crassula" (pronounced "KRASS-oo-la") means "somewhat thick" and refers to the thick, fleshy, and succulent nature of the leaves and stems that are characteristic of nearly every species in this genus.
The specific epithet "namaquensis" (pronounced "nam-uh-KWEN-sis") means "of or from Namaqualand" and refers to the Namaqualand🡕, an arid region of Namibia and South Africa, which is the type origin of this species.
Subspecies of Crassula namaquensis
- Crassula namaquensis subsp. comptonii
- Crassula namaquensis subsp. lutea
- Crassula namaquensis subsp. namaquensis
Origin of Crassula namaquensis
Crassula namaquensis is native to southern Namibia, southward to Namaqualand, as the specific epithet suggests, and also to the Richtersveld in South Africa. It grows on slopes with quartzite gravel and often also in rocky outcrops.
Description of Crassula namaquensis
Crassula namaquensis is a succulent shrublet with short branches and fuzzy, grey-green to blue-green leaves arranged in dense clusters. It can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) tall when flowering. The leaves are elliptical to oblanceolate or oblong, measuring up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long and 0.4 inches (1 cm) wide.
The flowers are small, tubular, with hairy, green to grey-green sepals and white or cream-colored petals. They appear in spring in 1 to 7 terminal clusters on stalks that can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) long.
How to Grow and Care for Crassula namaquensis
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25°F (-3.9°C) to 50°F (10°C).
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 of water, ensure 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 in a potting mix specifically designed 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, 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.
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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