Scientific Name
Crassula tetragona L.
Common Name(s)
Miniature Pine Tree
Synonym(s)
Crassula tetragona subsp. tetragona, Creusa tetragona, Sedum tetragonum
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Origin
Crassula tetragona is native to South Africa. It grows on gravelly slopes with quite dry vegetation from Gifberg to near Uniondale and in only a few localities near Springbok and Kamiesberg.
Description
Crassula tetragona is a succulent plant with green, narrow, almost needle-like leaves in well-spaced pairs along erect, decumbent, or prostrate stems. It can grow up to 3.3 feet (1 m) tall and has a shrubby or tree-like habit, hence the common name. The stems are fleshy at first, becoming woody with brown bark as they age. The leaves can measure up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and 0.12 inches (0.3 cm) in diameter. The old leaves remain attached to the stems.
The white to cream-colored flowers appear in dense clusters on long peduncles in spring and summer.
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 mealy bugs and fungal diseases. Overwatering is sure to be fatal, as with all succulents, 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 letting the plant 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 begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
Learn 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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