Crassula

( krass - YEW - luh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus is native mostly to South Africa, and needs full sun and little to no water. Every species has succulent foliage, and they are considered perennial plants. Foliage creates interesting forms, and they are great for container plantings.

Crassula Species and Varietals

The genus Crassula is the type genus member of the plant family Crassulaceae, and includes around 200 species. Crassula grows best in zones 8, 9 and 12-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Crassula alata
Native to the Mediterranean Basin, this species forms a succulent annual plant that reaches about 2 inches tall. Flowers are white, and bloom in springtime. Foliage ranges in color from light green to pinkish to carmine red, depending on environmental factors. The species was first described by botanist Alwin Berger in 1930. 

Crassula aquatica (Water Pygmyweed, Common Pygmyweed, Pigmyweed)
These plants are native to salt marshes, vernal pools and wetland areas in North America and Eurasia, and forms a small mat of foliage, growing more erect when exposed to air for longer periods of time 

Crassula arborescens (Crassula atropurpurea aroborescens) (Silver Jade Plant, Silver Dollar, Chinese Jade, Cookie Plant, Money Plant, Money Tree)
This species has a shrubby habit, and branches heavily, similar to the Jade plant (Crassula ovata), but grey-green leaves are edged in red and are dotted. Summer flowers are white and mature to a pink color. The species is endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa, but is cultivated worldwide.

Crassula atropurpurea (Purple Crassula)
These plants have a widespread native range in South Africa and Namibia, and are extremely variable in form and color. Leaves are typically erect, ranging in color from green to purple to dark brown (darker colors being more common in sunny areas or during times of drought). A flower spike holds pale yellow to white flowers.

Crassula barbata (Bearded-Leaved Crassula)
This species is endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa, and forms a basal rosette of green foliage. Leaves have margins that produce white, thin hairs. Spikes of small, pink to white flowers bloom in spring, and after flowering the entire plant dies. Luckily, before perishing these plants usually will send out 'pups' to be propagated.

Crassula barklyi (Crassula teres) (Rattlesnake Tail, Rattlesnake Buttons, Bandaged Finger, Wurmplakkie)
These tiny perennial succulent plants are native to Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Eswatini. It forms a column of smoothly overlapping leaves that are typically green, but vary in color somewhat depending on environmental factors.

Crassula biplanata
This succulent plant is native to rocky ledges and mountainous regions of the southern parts of South Africa. It reaches up to around a foot tall when mature, and produces very small light grey-green bell shaped flowers. Leaves are very small and are light grey-green, covered in a dense silvery waxy powder.

Crassula capitella thyrsiflora (Crassula corymbulosa) (Red Flames, Red Pagoda, Campfire Plant)
Gets 6-30 inches tall and a little wider, and has a slightly branching habit. Leaves form in rosettes and are red when grown in poor soil and bright sunlight. White flowers appear in summertime. These plants are frost-sensitive. A popular variety is 'Campfire' (also sold under the names Crassula coccinea and Crassula erusola), which has a spreading growth habit getting 6-12 inches tall with bright green leaves edged orange-red.

Crassula cotyledonis
These plants form low, woody-based sparsely foliaged rosettes with light greyish-green leaves. They are native to South Africa's Namaqualand and Karoo regions. Flowers are tiny and tubular. 

Crassula deceptor
This species of succulent perennial is native to South Africa and Namibia. Leaves are variable and typically are light grey-green. Plants typically stay quite compact, and clump readily. 

​Crassula lactea (Taylor's Parch, Tailor's Patch, Knysna Crassula)
This spreading shrub-like plant gets 1-2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Leaves are dark green and fleshy, and flowers are white and bloom in clusters. This species does well in shade, even if it is dense.

Crassula marnieriana (Jade Necklace, Chinese Pagoda)
This species of succulents forms a slow-growing small plant that reaches up to 6 to 8 inches tall when mature. Leaves are green, rounded and thick, and typically have red edges. Flowers are pink or white. These plants are great for containers and in hanging baskets.

​Crassula 'Morgan's Pink' ('Morgan's Pride)
This hybrid cultivar is a compact grower, reaching up to 4 inches tall and just as wide. The plant produces large clusters of showy pink flowers in spring, and has greyish blue-green leaves and stems.

​Crassula mucosa (Crassula lycopodioides) (Watch Chain, Rattail Crassula, Lizard's Tail, Zipper Plant, Princess Pines)
This species has a leafy, branching, erect habit and gets to 1 foot tall and just as wide. Looks like a green coral plant, and produces inconspicuous green flowers. This species is very easy to grow and does well in dish gardens.

​Crassula multicava (Fairy Crassula, Pitted Crassula, London Pride)
This species grows best in zones 8, 9, 12-24, H1 and H2 and gets 1.5 feet tall and twice as wide. Great as a spreading green groundcover or as a hanging plant. Clusters of pink flowers bloom in late winter and spring. This species is not picky about light conditions or soil.

Crassula nudicaulis 
This species of Crassula reaches 8-12 inches tall and wide. Green, fleshy leaves mature to have a maroon hue to them and the plant produces small yellow flowers in clusters in summertime. These plants are native to South Africa and Lesotho.
Crassula ovata (Crassula argentea) (Jade Plant, Lucky Plant, Money Plant, Money Tree)
This species is best when grown in zones 8, 9, 12-24, H1 and H2. This is a great plant for indoors, for containers, or as a landscape shrub in milder climate-regions. This plant has a short trunk, and a branching habit, reaching 9 feet tall and half as wide (though it is usually smaller than this), and leaves are glossy green sometimes with red edges. These plants bloom profusely in fall into springtime. Varieties are outlined below.
'Crosby's Dwarf'
Compact selection.
'Sunset'
Yellow-tinged red variegated foliage.
'Tricolor'
Foliage is green, white, and pink variegated.
'Gollum'
Red-tipped foliage that curls inward.
'Hobbit'
With reddish leaf tips that turn in.

Crassula pellucida
This creeping, succulent groundcover plant does well in either sun or shade, and is native to eastern and southern Africa. Leaves are green and rounded, and flowers are white to pink and star-shaped, blooming in late summer and fall in the plant's native range.

Crassula perfoliata falcata (Crassula falcata) (Airplane Plant, Airplane Propellers)
This species grows best in zones 8, 9, 12-24, H1 and H2. These plants reach 4 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide. Grey-green leaves are arranged in overlapping columns and the plant produces dense clusters of scarlet flowers in late summertime. This succulent is endemic to Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

​Crassula pyramidalis (Pagoda Mini-Jade)
This is an interesting-looking plant that reaches 3-4 feet tall and usually just as wide. Leaves are triangular and grow in four rows.

Crassula rupestris (Buttons On A String, Bead Vine, Necklace Vine, Rosary Vine)
This species produces a rounded, heavily branched succulent shrub that reaches up to 2 feet tall. Leaves are green to blue-green, reddish along their margins. Cultivars 'High Voltage' and 'Springtime' are very popularly grown varieties.

Crassula sarcocaulis (Bonsai Crassula)
This perennial plant is commonly used as a Bonsai, and is native to southern and southeastern Africa. Pink or white flowers bloom in summertime, and smell like honey or sweet jelly. Plants reach between 1 and 1.5 feet tall and wide. Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

​Crassula schmidtii
This species of Crassula forms a mat, getting 4 inches tall and 1 foot wide. Leaves are green and slender, and the plant produces small clusters of dark rose to purple flowers in winter and spring. Best for rock gardens and small pots.

​Crassula tetragona
This species is somewhat mini-tree like, forming a 1-2 foot tall plant that is about 1.5 feet wide. Narrow leaves contrast against white clusters of flowers. Used in dish gardens.

Caring for Crassula

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Crassula
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 268 - 269, Crassula
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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