Crassula perforata is a highly variable species with leaves that can range from ovate to lanceolate. The leaves have distinctively colored horny margins and may or may not have marginal cilia.
Scientific Name
Crassula perforata Thunb.
Common Name(s)
Necklace Vine, Pagoda Plant, Stacked Crassula, String of Buttons
Synonym(s)
Crassula perforata subsp. perforata
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Etymology
The specific epithet "perforata (per-for-AY-tuh)" means "pierced; penetrated" and refers to the perforated appearance of the leaves.
Origin
Crassula perforata is native to South Africa. It grows under dry scrub in rock crevices or among boulders in Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Description
Crassula perforata is a spreading, somewhat scrambling succulent shrub with slender grey-brown stems and grey-green leaves with reddish margins. It can grow up to 3.3 feet (1 m) tall. Initially, the stems are fleshy and upright, but they become woody and prostrate over time. The leaves are thick, fleshy, abruptly constricted at the base, and fused with the opposite leaf. They can measure up to 1.3 inches (3.3 cm) long and 0.8 inches (2 cm) wide, but they are much smaller in the typical form.
From spring to fall, Crassula perforata produces flowers with triangular brown to red sepals and tubular corolla with cream-colored to pale yellow petals. The flowers appear in elongate, rarely short, rounded clusters that can reach up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) in length. The flower clusters are supported by a usually indistinct stalk due to a gradual change from leaves to bracts.
How to Grow and Care for Crassula perforata
Light: Crassula perforata prefers full sun to partial shade. However, avoid intense afternoon sun during the hot summer days, as it can burn the leaves. If growing the plant indoors, place it in a window with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Soil: This plant is not particular about soil pH, but it does require soil that is very porous and has excellent drainage. You can use commercial soil mix for succulents or create your own.
Temperature: While this succulent can tolerate average summer temperatures and short-term freezing, extreme cold or heat can cause it to lose leaves and even die. Crassula perforata grows best in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9a to 11b, with average minimum winter temperatures ranging from 20 to 50 °F (-6.7 to 10 °C).
Watering: Avoid overwatering using the "soak and dry" method to keep the plant healthy. Water deeply and then let the soil completely dry out before watering again. Reduce watering in winter. The potted plants require more frequent watering than those in the ground.
Fertilizing: While Crassula perforata does not require high levels of nutrients, it will benefit from a small amount of organic fertilizer in mid-spring when it starts actively growing.
Repotting: Repot the plant as needed, preferably in spring, at the beginning of the growing season. Make sure the soil is dry before beginning to repot.
Propagation: This plant is usually propagated by leaves and stem cuttings. Using leaves is the easiest method, but stem cuttings produce larger plants more quickly. It can also be grown from seeds. The best time for propagation by cuttings is at the beginning of the growing season, while spring and summer are ideal for sowing the seeds.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Crassula.
Toxicity of Crassula perforata
Crassula perforata is considered non-toxic and is safe for growing around children and pets.
Subspecies, Forms, and Cultivars of Crassula perforata
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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