Scientific Name
Crassula pellucida L.
Synonym(s)
Crassula pellucida subsp. pellucida
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Etymology
The specific epithet "pellucida" (pronounced "pel-LOO-sid-a") means "transparent, pellucid; very bright" and may refer to the calyx, which usually has a membranous margin and can be nearly colorless, or to the carpels and receptacle, which become soft and transparent when the fruit is mature.
Origin
Crassula pellucida is native to southeast Africa.
Description
Crassula pellucida is a beautiful succulent that spreads into mats of beautiful geometric foliage. The leaves are small, ovate to elliptic, and paired along lax stems. They are green, sometimes with brown stripes, and have colorless or red margins.
The flowers are small, up-facing, star-shaped, white, sometimes tinged pink, and appear in spring and sporadically at other times of the year.
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 mealybugs and fungal diseases. As with all succulents, overwatering is sure to be fatal, 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. Place leaves into a potting mix for succulents and 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, and remove 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.
Subspecies and Forms
- Crassula pellucida subsp. brachypetala
- Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis
- Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis 'Rubra'
- Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis 'Petite Bicolor'
- Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis 'Variegata'
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.
