Scientific Name
Crassula perforata Thunb.
Common Name(s)
Necklace Vine, Pagoda Plant, Stacked Crassula, String of Buttons
Synonym(s)
Crassula anthurus, Crassula connata, Crassula coronata, Crassula pattersonii, Crassula perfilata, Crassula perforata subsp. perforata
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Description
Crassula perforata is a spreading, somewhat scrambling succulent shrub with grey-brown stems and grey-green leaves with reddish margins. It grows up to 3.3 feet (1 m) tall. The stems are fleshy, upright at first but become woody and prostrate over time. The leaves are thick, fleshy, opposite, and variable in size and shape. They are ovate, up to 1.3 inches (3.3 cm) long, up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) wide, much smaller in the normal form, and fused to the opposite leaf of the pair.
The flowers are small, tubular, cream to pale yellow, and appear in up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) long thyrses in spring.
Origin
Crassula perforata is native to South Africa (Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal).
Etymology
The specific epithet "perforata (per-for-AY-tuh)" means "pierced" or "penetrated" and refers to the perforated appearance of the leaves.
How to Grow and Care for Crassula perforata
Light: C. perforata prefers full sun to partial shade. However, intense afternoon sun in the hottest period of summer can burn the leaves of the plant. Therefore, a place with morning sun and afternoon shade would be perfect. Indoors, place your plants in a window where they receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Soil: This plant is not particular about soil pH but requires very porous soil with excellent drainage. Use commercial potting soil mixes designated for use with succulents, or mix your own.
Hardiness: Like most Crassulas, this succulent will tolerate short-term freezing, but extremes of cold or heat will cause it to lose leaves and die. C. perforata can withstand temperatures as low as 20 to 50 °F (-6.7 to 10 °C), USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b.
Watering: Avoid overwatering by using the "soak and dry" method, where the soil is soaked with water, slowly drained, and left to dry out before watering again. Reduce watering in winter. Potted plants require more frequent watering than those in the ground.
Fertilizing: C. perforata does not need much feeding but will benefit from a small amount of organic fertilizer when it starts actively growing in mid-spring.
Repotting: Repot as needed, preferably in spring, at the beginning of the growing season. Make sure the soil is dry before you begin repotting.
Propagation: This succulent is generally started by leaves or stem cuttings. It can also be grown from seeds and offsets. The easiest way is to propagate C. perforata from a single leaf, while using stem cuttings is the fastest way to get a decent-sized plant. These processes are most successful at the beginning of the plant's active growth period. Sow the seeds in the spring or summer. Propagating by dividing offsets is very easy because the parent plant has already done most of the work for you.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Crassula.
Toxicity of Crassula perforata
C. perforata is nontoxic to people 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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