Scientific Name
Crassula tomentosa Thunb.
Common Name(s)
Woolly Crassula
Synonym(s)
Crassula tomentosa var. tomentosa, Purgosea tomentosa, Sphaeritis tomentosa, Turgosea tomentosa
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Etymology
The specific epithet "tomentosa (toh-men-TOH-suh)" means "having a mass of rough hairs" and refers to the leaves covered with a dense layer of short hairs.
Origin
Crassula tomentosa is native to southern Namibia and South Africa (Northern Cape, Western Cape). It grows under bushes on sandy flats to rocky slopes.
Description
Crassula tomentosa is a perennial or biennial succulent that slowly forms a cluster of compact rosettes of grayish-green, usually densely hairy leaves with marginal cilia. It can reach a height of 2 feet (60 cm) when flowering. The leaves are variable in shape, flattened, scarcely convex, and measuring up to 4 inches (10 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.
The flowers are tubular, whitish to yellowish, and appear in dense clusters on spike-like thyrse in spring and early summer.
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 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.
Varieties and Hybrids
Links
- Back to genus Crassula
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
