Scientific Name
Crassula swaziensis Schönland
Accepted Scientific Name
Crassula globularioides subsp. argyrophylla (Schönland & Baker fil.) Toelken
Synonym(s)
Crassula argyrophylla var. swaziensis
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Origin
The native range of Crassula swaziensis extends from Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe to Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and Eswatini. It usually grows in rock crevices, often in exposed positions.
Description
Crassula swaziensis is a small succulent plant with short, slightly woody stems with terminal rosettes of green, grey-green to grayish-brown leaves covered with spreading hairs. The stems are erect or decumbent and can grow up to 10 inches (25 cm) long. The leaves are obovate, slightly convex on both surfaces, and have marginal cilia that become shorter towards the base. They can measure up to 2 inches (5 cm) long.
The flowers are white, becoming cream, and often tinged pink in bud. They appear in dense clusters on slender stalks growing up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) long in spring.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 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. 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, ensure you 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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