Scientific Name
Crassula rubricaulis Eckl. & Zeyh.
Common Name(s)
Red-stem Crassula
Synonym(s)
Crassula rubricaulis var. muirii
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Description
Crassula rubricaulis is a small, much-branched succulent shrub with attractive green leaves, usually with red margins, becoming deep red when grown in full sun. It can grow up to 20 inches (50 cm) tall. The branches are reddish and root at the nodes where they touch the ground. The older branches become woody and grey-brown. The leaves are long, flattened, and often crowded at the branch tips. They can measure up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) long and 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) wide.
In summer, Crassula rubricaulis produces white star-shaped flowers in large rounded clusters on red-tinged flowering stalks.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °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 fatal, so err on the side of being too dry rather than too wet. Never let your plant sit in water. If you water from beneath by allowing the plant to sit in a saucer, 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, 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 as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Crassula.
Origin
Crassula rubricaulis is native to South Africa (Western and Eastern Cape).
Cultivars
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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