''Crassula sarcocaulis'' is a small shrubby

succulent plant In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

known by the common name bonsai crassula, due to its

bonsai Bonsai ( ja, 盆栽, , tray planting, ) is the Japanese art of growing and training miniature trees in pots, developed from the traditional Chinese art form of ''penjing''. Unlike ''penjing'', which utilizes traditional techniques to produce ...

-like appearance. It is a perennial plant native to the eastern half of South Africa, on mountain slopes in rocky terrain.

Description

''Bonsai crassula'' has small pink or white flowers that appear in summer. The flowers are described as smelling like

honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...

blackcurrant The blackcurrant (''Ribes nigrum''), also known as black currant or cassis, is a deciduous shrub in the family Grossulariaceae grown for its edible berries. It is native to temperate parts of central and northern Europe and northern Asia, whe ...

jelly. The plant grows to about 30–50 cm (1-1.5 ft) high and wide.

Cultivation

This hardy little plant is among the most tolerant of cold temperatures in its genus, down to around -12 °C (10 °F), as well as being heat-tolerant It is a recipient of the British Royal Horticultural Society's

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

, in part due to its hardiness in UK growing conditions. It is drought-tolerant and generally disease-free, but can be affected by aphids,

mealybug Mealybugs are insects in the family (biology), family Pseudococcidae, unarmored scale insects found in moist, warm habitats. Many species are considered pest (animal), pests as they feed on plant juices of greenhouse plants, house plants and sub ...

s, and vine weevils. It can be grown indoors or outdoors, with full or partial sunshine, but full sunlight is preferred. Like most succulents, it prefers well-drained soil and only occasional watering.

Gallery

File:Crassula_sarcocaulis_1.JPG File:Crassula_sarcocaulis_2.jpg File:Crassula_sarcocaulis_closeup.jpg File:Crassula_sarcocaulis_form.jpg File:Crassula_Sarcocaulus_(5986928185).jpg File:Crassula_sarcocaulis_4.jpg

References

The Plant List entry

External links

San Marcos Growers profile of Crassula sarcocaulis
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15483140 sarcocaulis Flora of South Africa Plants used in bonsai