Scientific Name
Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis 'Variegata'
Accepted Scientific Name
Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis (Dryand.) Toelken
Common Name(s)
Calico Kitten, Calico Kitten Crassula
Synonym(s)
Crassula 'Calico Kitten', Crassula 'Isabella', Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis 'Isabella', Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis f. rubra variegata, Crassula marginalis f. rubra variegata
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Origin
This succulent is a form of Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis selected for its variegated foliage.
Description
Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis 'Variegata' is an attractive, much-branched succulent with smooth, slender, prostrate or decumbent branches that bear alternate pairs of colorful, heart-shaped leaves. The thick, fleshy leaves are grey-green with creamy-white or yellow streaks along the margins and suffused with bright pink and red with increased sun exposure. The fragile branches can grow up to 2 feet (60 cm) long.
The flowers are star-shaped, white, often tinged with pink, and usually appear in terminal clusters in late spring to early summer and intermittently throughout 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 mealy bugs 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 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 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 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.
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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