Scientific Name
Crassula sladenii Schönland
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Description
Crassula sladenii is a sparingly branched shrub with grey-brown spreading or somewhat scrambling branches and grey-green leaves with a powdery bloom and reddish margins. It can grow up to 20 inches (50 cm) tall and branches at the base and higher up. The leaves are thick, fleshy, ovate, basally fused with the opposite leaf of the pair, measuring up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. Tiny dark dots are scattered on the upper surface of the leaves away from the leaf base. The leaves can take on a yellow or orange hue depending on the season and growing conditions.
The small flowers are white with black anthers and appear in large clusters at the stem tips in fall.
Origin
The native range of Crassula sladenii is along the Orange River in the arid Richtersveld in the Northern Cape province of South Africa and across the river into southern Namibia. It grows among rocks on exposed slopes near the river mouth.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 10b to 11b: from 35 °F (+1.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Crassulas are easy to grow but susceptible to mealy bugs and fungal diseases. Overwatering is sure to be fatal, as with all succulents, so err on the side of too dry rather than too wet. Never let your Crassula 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.
Crassulas are generally started by division, offsets, or leaf cuttings. Plants can be easily propagated from a single leaf: sprout leaves by placing them into a succulent or cacti mix, then covering the dish until they sprout.
Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot a succulent, 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 begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
See 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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