50 Different Types of Crassula Varieties For Your Succulent Collection
Thinking of adding a Crassula plant to your succulent collection? There are a lot of different types of crassula, which can make picking just one (or a few) quite a challenge. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen looks at her favorite varieties of Crassula to add to your succulent collection.
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Succulents are popular and easy-to-grow houseplants. If you are a person who already likes to grow succulents, you may already have at least one variety of Crassula. If you have ever considered trying to grow succulents, jade plants are an excellent option for beginners. Jade plants are in the genus Crassula, which includes at least 200 named species and many more cultivars.
There are many Crassula plants that are both readily available and easily grown in a sunny window. All Crassula plants are succulents and retain a great deal of moisture in their thick, juicy leaves and stems, so they don’t require much water. Too much water, in fact, is a sure way to cause the demise of your plants. It’s generally best to ignore them rather than attempt to pamper them.
Many varieties of Crassula originated in Africa, although there are species from other warm, dry places as well. These plants are generally easy to propagate by leaf and stem cuttings. For some species, propagation may be as simple as laying a leaf or stem section on some soil and watching it take root and sprout a new plant!
The average Crassula has the following basic care requirements:
- Full sun to part shade
- Well-drained soil, ideally specifically for cacti and succulents
- Good drainage holes in growing pots
- Allow soil to thoroughly dry between waterings
- Warm temperatures (always above freezing!)
In this article, we will introduce you to 50 fabulous and unique Crassula plants. Enjoy learning a little more about these beautiful and fascinating succulents!
Crassula alstonii
common name Crassula alstonii | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 1-2 inches |
This Crassula variety has gray-green, velvety, soft leaves. The leaves are very thick and grow in compact, almost spherical rosettes. They can grow up to 1.5 inches, making these plants incredibly tiny. This is an unassuming yet attractive plant that is relatively easy to grow. Once it blooms, the rosette will die.
Place your Crassula alstonii in a sunny window and water it only when the soil has become completely dry. This is a plant that thrives on neglect, so you don’t really need to worry about underwatering it. Give it sandy, well-drained soil in a pot with good drainage holes and enjoy its quiet softness.
Crassula arborescens
common name Chinese Jade, Silver Dollar | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 1 to 4 feet |
The Chinese Jade has fleshy leaves that grow on thick, branching stems. Leaves are smooth and rounded and may be bright green or tinged and edged with a reddish-bronze color.
Given enough light, this plant may be coaxed into bloom, even when grown indoors. Clusters of showy light pink flowers make the Chinese Jade a spectacular display plant.
This is a low-maintenance jade that does well as a house plant. Give it at least 6 hours of bright sunlight every day. Soil should be light, loose, and well-drained.
Make sure your pot has good drainage holes and is large enough and sturdy enough to support this plant as it grows larger.
Crassula arborescens ssp. undulatifolia
common name Ripple Jade | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 1 to 4 feet |
The Ripple Jade is noted for its fleshy leaves that appear wavy rather than flat. Leaves are smooth-edged and bright green, although some may be very slightly tinged yellow or orange along the edges. This plant rarely blooms when grown indoors, but if it does, you will get to enjoy its tidy clusters of pale pink flowers.
Ripple Jade has the ability to grow quite large. If you live in plant growing zones 9-11, you can grow this plant outside in a sunny location with well-drained soil.
When grown outside, it looks like a small shrub! To grow Ripple Jade inside, give it a large, sturdy pot with good drainage and well-drained soil. Place it in the sunniest location you have and enjoy its stout treelike growth.
Crassula argentea ‘Variegata’
common name Variegated Jade Plant | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 1 to 4 feet |
Crassula argentea (also known as Crassula ovata) ‘Variegata’ is an attractive jade plant with green and white variegated leaves. This plant has thick stems and fleshy leaves that really stand out because of their attractive coloration.
Grow the Variegated Jade plant in a sturdy pot with good drainage holes. Soil should be a well-drained succulent mixture. Put this plant in a bright window with as much sunlight as you can.
Plants are easily propagated by leaf cuttings, and it’s hard to believe a single tiny leaf can grow into a miniature tree!
Crassula ausensis ssp. titanopsis
common name Crassula titanopsis | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 3 to 4 inches |
This tiny succulent is beautiful and unusual looking. Thick juicy leaves are bright green and covered with slightly raised white patches. Crassula titanopsis tends to stay quite small and compact.
If you’re lucky enough to get one to flower, the flowers emerge from the leafy rosettes on taller stems with loose clusters of tiny white flowers.
Crassula titanopsis doesn’t need much room to grow. Give it a sunny window and loose, well-drained soil. Be careful not to overwater, as these plants, like many succulents, are prone to rot if they get too much moisture.
Crassula barklyi
common name Rattlesnake Tail, Rattlesnake Buttons | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 3 to 4 inches |
The Rattlesnake Tail plant is a very unique-looking plant. Leaves are thick and densely overlapping, giving the plant the appearance of being a single, thick, scaly stem.
They stay very compact and don’t ever get very big, but they will slowly branch out from the base. Flowers form as a cluster of white blooms at the tips of mature leaf clusters.
Plant these funky little plants in a pot with loose, well-drained soil formulated for cacti and succulents. Make sure the pot has good drainage and water them only when thoroughly dry.
It’s okay to err on the side of caution when watering and keep them dry rather than too wet, which can quickly lead to root rot.
Crassula brevifolia
common name Crassula brevifolia | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 15 to 20 inches |
Crassula brevifolia is a small plant with long stems of very thick triangular-shaped leaves. Leaves grow all along the stems, like a chunky green necklace. Leaves are typically pale green with tiny freckles and bright pink edging, giving the plant a rather colorful look.
Even though the stems are fairly thin, Crassula brevifolia tends to grow upright rather than trailing. This plant will grow best in sandy, well-drained soil.
Make sure your pot has excellent drainage and water only when thoroughly dry. Give your plant plenty of bright sunlight and enjoy its colorful charm.
Crassula capitella ssp. thyrsiflora
common name Red Pagoda, Shark’s Tooth Crassula | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 6 to 8 inches |
This is a pretty and visually stunning little plant. The leaves are triangular looking, and appear to be stacked in a dense 4-pointed star formation. Not only are the leaves beautiful and unusual, but they are also tipped with an abundance of bright red so these plants really stand out in a crowd!
Grow your Red Pagoda plant in a bright and sunny window. Make sure the pot has excellent drainage, as well as loose, well-drained soil. There’s no need to water these much, only when thoroughly dry, so you can spend more time admiring their beauty and less time fussing about water.
Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’
common name Campfire Crassula | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 6 to 12 inches |
Bright red leaves with a bit of green make the Campfire Crassula hard to miss. Leaves are flattened and fleshy, coming to a slight point at the tips. The long stems are trailing, with the leafy ends turning upwards. Each little leafy cluster is like a miniature campfire, glowing in the pot.
Give your Campfire Crassula plenty of bright sunlight. If given enough light, this plant may bloom when grown as a houseplant.
Flower stalks lined with tiny white flowers emerge from the leafy stem ends. As with other Crassulas, give your plant well-drained succulent-growing soil and water it only when the soil has completely dried.
Crassula ciliata
common name Crassula ciliata | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun to part shade | |
water needs Low | |
height 6 to 8 inches |
Crassula ciliata is a relatively low-growing succulent. Leaves are flattened but fleshy and closely stacked along upright to slightly sprawling stems. Leaves are fringed with a fine layer of white hairs, like cilia, giving this plant its name ‘C. ciliata.’
Plant Crassula ciliata in a pot of well-drained succulent soil. This plant is a bit more tolerant of shade than some other succulents, and it would do fine in a window with bright but indirect sunlight. With proper care, it will produce a thickly-stalked flower stalk with a cluster of creamy pale green flowers.
Image Credit: S Molteno, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. (Image Use Allowed With Attribution)
Crassula clavata
common name Crassula clavata | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 2 to 4 inches |
Crassula clavata is a beautiful little plant. It has thick and chunky leaves that range in color from mostly green to almost entirely red, particularly when grown in bright light. The chubby leaves are about 1 inch long and grow densely packed along short stems on compact plants.
Grow Crassula clavata in sandy, well-drained soil. Because plants stay fairly small, they don’t need a particularly large pot or could be grown along with another succulent in a group planting. Give this plant lots of bright sunlight for the most vibrant leaf colors.
Crassula coccinea
common name Red Crassula | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 12 to 16 inches |
The Red Crassula is aptly named after its vibrant tubular red flowers. Flowers bloom at the tops of sturdy stems, densely packed with overlapping leaves. These are curious-looking plants with an eye-catching leaf arrangement, even without the striking blooms.
If given enough space and time, the Red Crassula will grow and branch into many leafy stems, which can have a ground cover effect and fill a pot with greenery.
Give the Red Crassula plenty of bright sunlight, which will encourage full growth and a chance of flowering. Give it well-drained soil and water it only when the soil is totally dry.
Crassula columella
common name Crassula columella | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 4 to 6 inches |
Thick, stubby leaves grow densely packed along stocky upright stems. The leaves are so densely packed that they overlap each other and appear as one thick stalk.
This feature gives this plant an unusual appearance. Flower stalks appear as a long stem, emerging from the top of the stalks, and topped with a cluster of delicate tiny white flowers.
Grow Crassula columella in well-drained soil formulated for cactus and succulents, and water it only when it is thoroughly dry. Give it plenty of bright sunlight to keep it growing healthy and vibrant. These compact plants are sure to attract attention for their unusual looks.
Crassula congesta
common name Crassula congesta | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 6 to 8 inches |
Crassula congesta is a small plant with thickly rounded leaves. It grows on a simple upright stem and doesn’t get more than about 8 inches tall. A mature plant in ideal conditions will produce a dense semi-spherical cluster of fragrant flowers, and after flowering, the plant will die.
If you have a Crassula congesta, grow it in a brightly lit window in gravely, well-drained soil. Water it sparingly as these plants are native to dry habitats in South Africa and don’t require much moisture to thrive.
Image Credit: Roy Mottram, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. (Image Use Allowed With Attribution)
Crassula conjuncta
common name Crassula conjuncta | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full to partial sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 12 to 14 inches |
This vertically-growing, medium-sized succulent is an attractive little plant that would do well in a small pot on a sunny windowsill. Leaves are fleshy and triangular in shape, with pointed tips and smooth around the edges. Leaf color is light green with red margins, giving this plant a unique appearance.
Crassula conjuncta can grow outdoors in hardiness zones 9-11 or indoors. It is a popular tabletop or desktop succulent but it also grows well in hanging gardens. It is a highly branching species that offsets with ease.
Crassula cotyledonis
common name Crassula codyledonis | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 4 to 6 inches |
This small Crassula plant does not grow taller than about 6 inches and can be kept in a small pot on a sunny windowsill. Give it plenty of light and water it sparingly.
If you are lucky, your Crassula cotyledonis will bloom by producing a tall stem from the center of the plant, topped with a rounded cluster of diminutive flowers.
Crassula cotyledonis produces thick, fleshy, rounded leaves. The leaves are covered with a fine, velvety coating, giving them a very soft feel and silvery-green appearance. Leaves at the base of the plant tend to be smaller than the leaves towards the top.
Image Credit: magrietb, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. (Image Use Allowed With Attribution)
Crassula corymbulosa
common name Crassula corymbulosa | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 6 to 8 inches |
Crassula corymbulosa looks like a stem that is tightly stacked with triangular leaves that overlap at the base. Leaves vary from bright green to deep red and create a distinctive 4-pointed star pattern as they climb up the stem. Plants grow upright to slightly sprawling, depending on how long the stems become.
This plant looks quite stunning when it grows into a mature cluster in a warm, sunny window. Grow this Crassula in gritty or sandy, well-drained soil, and water it only when the soil has thoroughly dried. Don’t allow water to sit in between the densely packed leaves, as this can invite leaf rot.
Crassula deceptor
common name Crassula deceptor | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 4 to 6 inches |
Crassula deceptor is a small and compact succulent. It does not grow more than about 6 inches tall. Short stems are densely packed with thick, stubby, overlapping leaves.
The leaves appear silvery green because they are textured with green and white, making an unusual appearance.
Grow Crassula deceptor in well-drained sandy soil and give it plenty of sunlight. If your plant blooms, you can enjoy a short flower stalk topped with a cluster of diminutive flowers.
Image Credit: tonyrebelo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. (Image Use Allowed With Attribution)
Crassula exilis spp. schmidtii
common name Fairy Tongue | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 6 to 9 inches |
Fairy Tongue Crassula is a densely growing succulent. Stems can grow into many-branching mats that have the ability to fill even a large pot. Leaves grow sparsely along the stems and are long, thick, and pointed. Rosy pink flowers grow in loose clusters at the ends of the stems.
Give the Fairy Tongue Crassula a pot with good drainage holes. Soil should be well drained and formulated for cacti and succulents. Give your plant a location in a brightly lit window, and enjoy watching it grow and fill in its allotted space!
Crassula falcata
common name Propeller Plant | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 6 to 9 inches |
The Propeller Plant is a little different looking. It has long, alternating, curving leaves that grow up from a central base. Leaves are a pale silvery green in color. The leaves are interesting by themselves, and a plant in full bloom is spectacular.
Flowers bloom on short stalks from the center of the main leaf-producing stem; brilliant reddish-orange flowers form a large cluster. This is one of the more popular flowering succulents you’ll come across in succulent collections.
This Crassula variety doesn’t get very large and will not grow quickly and take over a pot. This would be an ideal plant for growing indoors on a sunny windowsill. Give it plenty of bright sunlight and a pot of loose, well-drained soil.
Crassula lactea
common name Taylor’s Parches, Tailor’s Patch | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 12 to 18 inches |
Taylor’s Parches is an attractive plant with an interesting leaf. The leaves are thick and fleshy, rounded with slightly pointed tips. They are medium solid green in color with little white dots along the edges, lending the common name “tailor’s patch.”
These plants don’t get very tall, but they do have a trailing habit, and the leafy stems can grow 12 to 18 inches long. In bloom, the flower stalks produce attractive spikes of white, star-shaped blossoms. Give your plant a large enough pot to sprawl a little, and make sure the pot has good drainage holes and well-drained soil.
Crassula marchandii
common name Crassula marchandii | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 3 to 5 inches |
Crassula marchandii is a cute little succulent that stays quite small and compact. Leaves are stout and very chunky, roughly triangular in shape, and grow densely packed along the stems. The pattern of leaf growth results in an almost square profile. Leaf color is pale green, changing to pink when grown in bright sunlight.
Crassula marchandii stems grow upright but will sprawl along as they develop new branches. Grow this plant in a shallow pot with good drainage and sandy, well-drained soil.
Give it a window with plenty of bright sunlight. Blooms are small inconspicuous flower stalks that emerge from the top of the leaf-covered stems.
Image Credit: Salicyna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. (Image Use Allowed With Attribution)
Crassula mesembryanthemoides
common name Tenelli Bling, Cat’s Tongue | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 12 to 16 inches |
The Tenelli Bling jade plant is a rather eye-catching plant. Leaves are thick, oblong, and pointed at both ends. But what is most noticeable is that the leaves and stems are covered with a dense layer of fine white hairs. Just by looking at it, you wouldn’t know for sure if the hairs are soft or prickly (they’re soft!).
Tenelli Bling will eventually grow into a cluster of semi-trailing, semi-upright stems. A plant in ideal conditions will bloom by sending up flower stalks at the ends of the stems.
The flowers are quite small and creamy yellow-green in color. Grow this nifty succulent in a sunny window and give it sandy, well-drained soil.
Crassula ‘Moonglow’
common name Moonglow | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 6 to 8 inches |
‘Moonglow’ is a genetic cross between C. deceptor and C. perforata. The leaves are thick and chunky, triangular, and densely stacked along upright to trailing stems.
The leaves are soft and velvety with color variations from medium green to pale silvery green with a slight pinkish-orange glow. Leaf color is dependent on how much light the plant gets, with the more vibrant colors associated with more bright sunlight.
Grow ‘Moonglow’ in a bright window. Be sure to use a pot with good drainage. Soil should be loose and well-drained; a potting soil mix for cacti and succulents should work well for these plants. Water them sparingly, allowing the soil to dry completely between waterings.
Crassula muscosa
common name Watch Chain | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 16 to 20 inches |
It’s easy to see how this Crassula earned the common name “Watch Chain.” The leaves are tiny and densely packed along the stem, giving it the look of a rough green watch chain or jewelry chain. The appearance of the plant overall is like a bushy little cluster of rough stems, which makes it look quite different than most other succulents.
Grow the Watch Chain Crassula in a bright and sunny window. Soil should be loose and well-drained, such as any commercially available soil formulated for succulents.
You will have to look closely to see if your plant is blooming. Flowers are tiny and pale green, peeking out from between individual leaves along the stems.
Crassula multicava
common name Fairy Crassula | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun to part shade | |
water needs Low | |
height 12 to 16 inches |
When grown outdoors (Hardiness zones 9 to 11), the Fairy Crassula can grow quite large and robust, like a very leafy ground cover. Grown in a pot, it can still become a substantially dense plant with a tendency to sprawl a bit. The Fairy Crassula may outgrow its welcome in a sunny window and need a larger pot on the floor.
The leaves are fairly large and fleshy but beautifully colored, with deep green on top and vibrant magenta underneath. Flowers appear on long spikes from the ends of leafy stems as loose clusters of tiny pink star-shaped blooms. Give this plant a sunny location with a bit of afternoon shade and allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Crassula nudicaulis
common name Devil’s Horns | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 3 to 5 inches |
The Devil’s Horns Crassula is a striking little plant. Leaves are relatively long, thick, and tubular. They grow in a leafy rosette and vary from green at the base to bright pink at the tips. Plants grown in the brightest light will have the most intense red leaf coloration, and in low light, leaves will remain mostly green.
Devil’s Horns can be grown in a relatively small pot. Make sure your chosen pot has good drainage holes, and use well-drained soil for cacti and succulents. This plant will spread slowly by developing new rosettes. If they become too crowded, rosettes can be easily divided.
Crassula orbicularis
common name Crassula orbicularis | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun to part shade | |
water needs Low | |
height 4 to 6 inches |
Crassula orbicularis has almost round leaves that are fleshy and slightly thickened. Leaves are arranged in low-growing rosettes. Over time, this plant will spread by sending out new stems with baby plants, creating a dense ground cover, and filling in its pot.
Grow this plant in a bright and sunny window. Greater amounts of light will bring out a slightly rosy tinge to the leaf margins, which is quite appealing.
Intense afternoon sunlight may be too much, so if you notice leaves turning brown, move your plant to a location with a bit more protection. Soil should be well drained and watered only when it has dried completely.
Crassula ovata
common name Jade Tree, Baby Jade, Chinese Rubber Plant | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 1 to 6 feet |
Crassula ovata, or Jade Tree, is one of the original Crassulas that made this group of plants so popular. It is easy to grow, low maintenance, and makes an excellent house plant.
Leaves are smooth, fleshy, and bright green, and in bright light conditions, leaves may be tinged with red. It has a thick, branching stem and an upright growth habitat, which make it look like a miniature tree.
The Jade Tree is commonly available as a house plant, and it is very simple to propagate these plants by leaf and stem cuttings. Grow Jade Tree in loose, well-drained soil in a pot with good drainage holes. Be sure the pot is sturdy enough to support the plant as it grows larger and possibly top-heavy.
Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’
common name Gollum, Gollum Jade, Finger Jade | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 2 to 3 feet |
Gollum is a fun jade plant. Long, thick, fingerlike leaves are bright green with pink tips. These colorful, fleshy leaves grow at the ends of thick stems, giving the appearance of a small tree. A mature plant in a sunny location can be convinced to bloom, producing clusters of small white flowers.
This jade plant can reach a substantial size to be sure your pot is sturdy enough to support it as it grows. Fill the pot with well-drained soil and place it in a sunny window.
Water Gollum Jade only when the soil is completely dry, and be cautious about overwatering. A healthy, happy jade plant should live for many years!
Crassula ovata ‘Hobbit’
common name Hobbit Jade | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun to part shade | |
water needs Low | |
height 2 to 3 feet |
The Hobbit Jade has variable leaves. All are thick and fleshy, but some are more rounded while others have a pointed tip, and some are thick and flat while others have a spoon-like curve. Some leaves are all green, while others have a pink or red-tinged edge.
The more sun this plant gets, the redder the leaves become. Hobbit Jade does best with a bright sunny location but can tolerate a shadier window.
Soil should be loose and well-drained, and the pot should have a good drainage hole at the bottom. Hobbit Jade is an attractive shrubby-looking plant for a home or office.
Crassula ovata ‘Hummel’s Sunset’
common name Hummel’s Sunset Jade, Golden Jade Tree | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 2 to 3 feet |
Hummel’s Sunset Jade is a beautiful plant. It grows like a tiny, thick-trunked tree with leafy branches extending upwards from the main stem.
Leaves are thick, fleshy, flat, and rounded with smooth edges. Leaf colors vary from green to yellow to slightly orange hues. A mature Hummel’s sunset is a rather spectacular plant.
Grow this plant in a large, sturdy pot with good drainage. Make sure the soil is loose and well-drained; a potting mix for cacti and succulents should work well.
Give your plant plenty of bright sunlight. If it’s in a sunny window and the plant is leaning towards the light, simply rotate it slightly every few weeks to help keep it balanced.
Crassula ovata ‘Pink Joy’
common name Pink Joy Jade | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 2 to 3 feet |
Although Crassula ovata plants may get quite large in their native habitat (some can grow to 6 feet tall!), they are unlikely to grow that large indoors. These are, however, very long-lived plants and quite hardy in ideal conditions.
Grow ‘Pink Joy’ and other varieties of Crassula ovata in a bright and sunny window where they get plenty of sunlight. Give them loose, well-drained soil and water only when the soil is completely dry.
‘Pink Joy’ jade is an attractive plant with a thick branching trunk. Smaller branches develop towards the ends of the main branches, and these smaller branches develop leaves.
Leaves are thick and rounded, bright green, and may be tinged with pink when grown in bright sunlight. A mature plant may produce flowers, and the blossoms of pink joy are an attractive shade of pink.
Crassula pellucida ssp. marginalis ‘Variegata’
common name Calico Kitten | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 1 to 2 feet |
The Calico Kitten Crassula is a popular variety, and for good reason. Its fleshy variegated leaves are beautifully colored green and white with bright pink margins. Blooms are small and white and appear in little clusters at the ends of the leafy stems.
This plant has a creeping and trailing habit and will drape over the edges of the pot. Put your calico kitten in a bright and sunny window.
The more sun it gets, the more vibrant the leaf colors will be. Calico Kitten is easily propagated by taking stem cuttings, so you can give new kittens to all your succulent-growing friends.
Crassula perforata ‘String of Buttons’
common name String of Buttons, Necklace Vine | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 2 to 3 feet |
String of Buttons jade is a perky-looking plant. Thin erect stems grow upwards, lined with alternating pairs of pointed, almost triangular leaves. Leaves are thick and fleshy and bright green in color, although bright sunlight can cause the leaf margins to turn pink.
As the String of Buttons Crassula grows larger, the upright stems may bend over and start creeping along the ground. For this reason, you can expect a more mature plant to develop a more sprawling habit. Give it plenty of room to grow, or you can pinch it back and keep the growth more compact and bushier.
Crassula perforata ‘Variegata’
common name Variegated String of Buttons | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 12 to 18 inches |
The Variegated String of Buttons has strikingly colored leaves. Leaf colors are the most intense when the plant is grown in bright sunlight. Leaves grow in opposite pairs along an upright stem and are green, becoming creamy white and finally tinged with bright pink along the leaf edges.
Young plants have sturdy stems that grow upright, but as the stems grow longer and heavier, they may bend over the edges of the pot.
Any stems that happen to break off can be used to propagate a new plant. Simply lay the broken stem section on some soil or stick the broken end into some fresh soil, and it will soon sprout roots and continue growing!
Crassula picturata
common name Tiger Jade | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 6 to 8 inches |
With a name like “Tiger Jade” you would think this plant is striped like a tiger, but instead, the pale green leaves are spotted with little maroon flecks.
The undersides of the leaves are also a reddish maroon color, and the leaves are edged with fine hairs. Flowers appear in small clusters at the ends of the leafy stalks and range from white to a rich pink color.
Tiger Jade is an attractive plant that can grow into a many-stemmed ground cover. Stems branch as they grow. A plant that has overgrown its pot may be trimmed.
Any thinned stem cuttings can be rooted to form new plants if desired. Give Tiger Jade a sunny window with well-drained soil and allow the soil to dry thoroughly between waterings.
Image Credit: Consultaplantas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. (Image Use Allowed With Attribution)
Crassula pubescens
common name Jersey Pigmyweed | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 3 to 5 inches |
Jersey Pigmyweed is a very attractive little Crassula. It is dense and low-growing, forming a rounded clump of fuzzy leaves. The leaves vary in color from green to deep red and are thickened and clublike in shape. Over time, Jersey Pigmyweed will spread outwards, creating a larger and larger mounded cluster.
This plant grows best in a brightly lit window. Leaves will become more vibrantly colored with increased levels of light. Give it a well-drained potting mix formulated for cacti and succulents. Water only when the soil has dried completely.
Crassula pyramidalis
common name Buddha’s Temple | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 6 to 12 inches |
This is a very interesting-looking Crassula. Leaves grow densely along upright stems, creating a very geometric pattern. Leaves are green with rosy-pink edges, curving upwards to a point. The leaf pattern, when viewed from above, looks like the multi-layered roof of a pagoda.
A Buddha’s Temple Crassula in full bloom in a beautiful sight to see. Dense, almost-spherical clusters of pink flowers bloom at the tops of the leaf towers, as well as along the stems. You definitely wouldn’t want to miss seeing this plant in bloom!
Crassula rogersii
common name Crassula rogersii | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full to partial sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 10 to 12 inches |
Crassula rogersii is a small bushy succulent plant that can grow as much as 12 inches in height and width. The leaves are club-shaped with a fluffy, velvety texture that is divided by branches with red stems. The tips of the thick leaves are green, but when exposed to sunlight, the edges become red.
If you want the edges of the leaves to increase in redness, you simply leave the plant in the sun longer. Just be sure to acclimate the plant to more sunlight a little bit at a time. Prolonging the exposure too quickly can burn the leaves.
Crassula rubricaulis
common name Red-stem Crassula | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 15 to 20 inches |
The Red-stem Crassula can grow into a small shrub. It has slightly thickened reddish stems that will grow upright until they get too long and heavy and then bend slightly. Stems will occasionally branch, allowing the plant to become rather bushy.
Thick green-to-pink leaves alternate along the stems. In ideal conditions, stems will simply keep growing until they bloom, terminating with dense clusters of small pink and white flowers. Put the Red-stem Crassula in a sunny location and allow the soil to dry thoroughly between waterings.
Crassula rupestris
common name Rosary Vine, Bead Vine | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun to part shade | |
water needs Low | |
height 15 to 20 inches |
Rosary Vine is a beautiful variety of Crassula with brightly colored leaves. The leaves vary from green to yellow, orange, and deep pinkish-red.
They are typically yellow to pale green with more colorful margins. The stems are also typically red. Flowers bloom in shades of pale pink, giving this plant a very colorful appearance!
Rosary Vine grows upright on thick stems lined with thick fleshy, rounded-triangular leaves. The leaf color varies with the amount of sunlight these plants receive. Place your plant in a bright and sunny location. Use a pot with good drainage holes and soil that is loose and well-drained.
Crassula rupestris ssp. commutata
common name Rosary Vine | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 10 to 12 inches |
This subspecies of Rosary Vine has attractively colored leaves. The leaves are thick and fleshy, growing along upright to slightly trailing stems. Leaf color ranges from pale green to pink-tinged with little flecks of color. Flowers are white and form loose clusters at the ends of short stalks.
Rosary vine can grow into a dense, branching mat. If the plant becomes too crowded in its pot, remove some of the extra stems. These can then be propagated as stem cuttings to grow new Rosary Vine plants if desired.
Crassula sarcocaulis
common name Bonsai Crassula | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 1.5 to 2 feet |
The Bonsai Crassula grows into a leafy, many-branched shrub with relatively short stature. This would be an excellent plant to grow in a large pot near a big sunny window.
Bonsai Crassula is a long-lived plant that, with careful pruning, can be trained to look very much like a bonsai tree, with a very thick stem and smaller leafy clusters near the top.
The flowers of the bonsai Crassula are quite pretty. They are small but showy and pink, forming loose clusters at the top of the plant. The leaves are elongated and thick, like little green bananas.
Crassula sarmentosa
common name Crassula sarmentosa | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 2 to 3 feet |
Crassula sarmentosa has the ability to grow into a rather large, many-branched shrub. Leaves are fleshy and green and can develop a deep pinkish-red margin when grown in bright sunlight. Flowers appear in loose clusters at the ends of red stems and are white to pink 5-petaled stars.
Grow your Crassula sarmentosa in a large pot in a bright sunny window area. Make sure the pot has good drainage and it large enough to support the plant as it grows larger.
Soil should be loose and well-drained, such as a mixture specifically formulated for succulents and cacti. Allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Crassula socialis
common name Ivory Towers | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 2 to 3 inches |
Don’t let these plants small stature fool you. The Ivory Towers Crassula is a vigorous little plant that can grow new shoots from its base and eventually form a dense mat of little green towers.
Leaves are thickened and densely packed along short stems. A plant in full bloom is covered by long stalks of pearly white flower clusters that make an eye-catching display.
Grow Ivory Towers in a sunny window. Give it a pot with well-drained soil and water it sparingly. If the plant spreads too much and eventually appear overcrowded, you can remove some of the extra stems and propagate them.
Crassula streyi
common name Pondo Cliff Crassula | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 10 to 14 inches |
This crassula has relatively large, flat leaves growing along an upright stem. The leaves are broad and oblong, slightly wider at the base than at the tips.
They are dark green with silvery green flecked patterns on top and deep maroonish-red underneath. In bright sunlight, the leaves get pinker along the edges and flecked across the top. This is a very attractive plant with unusual foliage.
The Pondo Cliff Crassula blooms with tall spikes of loosely clustered pink, star-shaped blossoms. As plants mature and the stems grow longer, they may have a tendency to sprawl over the edges of the pot. Trailing stems can be easily removed and propagated to start new plants.
Image Credit: peganum from Henfield, England, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. (Image Use Allowed With Attribution)
Crassula tetragona
common name Miniature Pine Tree | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 2 to 3 feet |
Crassula tetragona does somewhat resemble a miniature pine tree. It has a thick upright stem. The leaves are fleshy, narrow, and pointed at the ends. When the upper stems have made numerous branches, this plant resembles a bright green bonsai tree.
The Miniature Pine Tree Crassula can be pruned and trained to stay short and stocky or can be allowed to grow more naturally and sprawling. The choice is up to you.
Grow it in a sturdy pot that can support a somewhat top-heavy plant as it grows larger and give it plenty of sunlight. Flowers bloom as loosely formed clusters of small white blossoms.
Crassula tomentosa
common name Wooly Crassula | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 2 to 4 inches |
This is a low-growing succulent that doesn’t typically get more than a few inches tall. The flower stalks, however, can grow from 1 to 2 feet tall with loose spikes of tiny whorled white blossoms.
Normally, the Wooly Crassula is diminutive and unassuming, but it does have an unusual leaf formation. Leaves look like rounded disks with lightly fuzzy edges. They grow in an overlapping and rounded pattern, making them look like leafy orbs coming out of the ground.
The Wooly Crassula spreads by sending out young plants on short runners. The new plantlets will eventually fill in the pot around the mother plant, making an effective ground cover.
A pot full of fuzzy-edged leafy rosettes is quite attractive. This Crassula needs a sunny window, well-drained soil, and water only when the soil is thoroughly dry.
Photo Credit: S Molteno, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. (Image Use Allowed With Attribution)
Crassula ‘Tom Thumb’
common name Tom Thumb Crassula | |
plant type Succulent | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
water needs Low | |
height 5 to 6 inches |
‘Tom Thumb’ Crassula is a plant with a small size but big color. Growing only about 6 inches long, the stems are covered with tiny, plump, brightly colored pink and green leaves. Stems branch and divide, so a single stem will eventually form a dense cluster of beautiful vegetation.
‘Tom Thumb’ blooms with dense clusters of white flowers atop short stalks. Grow this plant in a brightly lit window; more sunlight will enhance the pink leaf coloration.
Soil should be loose and well-drained, such as a soil mixture formulated for cacti and succulents. Allow the soil to dry thoroughly between waterings, as Crassulas are sensitive to overwatering.
Final Thoughts
Succulents are popular houseplants, and for good reason. They are low-maintenance and grow well indoors in a sunny window. There is a wonderfully diverse variety of Crassula plants that are available for the houseplant enthusiast. Ranging from tiny ground covers to small shrubs, there is something to suit almost every need.
Crassulas will all thrive in a well-lit window and with well-drained soil. They don’t need much water because they store what they need in their leaves. So, if you acquire a Crassula to add to your succulent collection, enjoy these fascinating plants right in your own home!
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