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Fresh seed of Crassula columnaris ssp. columnaris South of Calitzdorp available here:

Crassula columnaris is a little jewel amongst the South African desert plants.

This tiny, almost inconspicuous succulent seems to prefer stony patches, often on top of hillsides and hillocks, and has a wide distribution from Namibia to The Little Karoo.

The plants flower in winter and die soon after flowering leaving just the dried up plant body behind with the seed on top.

Cultivation is easy and a sandy well drained soil is preferred.

Propagation is from seed which I normally sow in autumn or winter.

Growth is quite slow and the plants take a number of years to reach maturity.

Crassula arborescens occurs widespread in arid landscape from Namaqualand to the Eastern Cape Province. The plants have a somewhat similar appearance than the well known Crassula ovata, but the leaves are blue-gray and larger than those of the latter.

This shrub has a thick succulent stem with many branches and can grow up to about 1.5 meters tall.

The dense clusters of white flowers occur in spring and summer.

The cultivation of Crassula arborescens is very easy. Good drainage and full sun is preferred for optimal results.

Propagation is usually by cuttings of the branches or leaves, which easily root.


Crassula arborescens on a rocky outcropping in the Little Karoo.


Flowers.

      

Crassula rupestris subsp. rupestris is widely spread in the semi- desert southern Cape, including the Great- and the Little Karoo.

This succulent plant forms a low shrub approximately half a meter high with brownish-green leaves that have attractive red or brownish margins. The plants prefer rocky slopes and full sun.

The beautiful whitish-pink blooms appear in winter.

The cultivation of Crassula rupestris subsp. rupestris is easy as long as the plants receive good drainage. Propagation is from seed or cuttings.


Crassula rupestris subsp. rupestris in habitat in the Little Karoo.


Flowers.

      

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Crassula pyramidalis is found in desert-like habitat in the Eastern Cape, Little Karoo and southern Great Karoo.

The small attractive plants vary in stem- length and -thickness depending on the locality.

Similar to some other members of the genus, the plants grow until maturity and then die after flowering.


Crassula pyramidalis near Ladismith in the Little Karoo.

   

Crassula barbata subsp. barbata is a small species known from the mountains of the southern Great karoo to the eastern Cedarberg. The plants also occur on the southern slopes of certain hills near Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo. Crassula barbata subsp. barbata grows for a few years to reach maturity and then dies after flowering, similar to plants of the genus Agave.


Crassula barbata subsp. barbata in habitat.


   

Family: Crassulaceae
Synonyms: Jade Plant, Money Tree Plant, Money Plant,Pink Joy (Afr: Beestebul)
Distribution: Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal


The Jade plant is a very popular and easy to grow garden plant. It occurs in natural habitat from the desert regions of Willowmore easterwards and northwards into the areas with a more temperate climate.


Crassula ovata can easily be propagated from stem cuttings and leaves, which root readily.

Crassula ovata flowers.

Some pictures of old Jade Plant Large Money Plant

   

Family: Crassulaceae
Distribution: Arid areas of South Africa, Namibia
Images: Desert Plants

Found over a wide area from the Little Karoo northwards to South eastern Namibia. It is a smallish Crassula, and normally grows in the open. Plants appear on their best when grown in the full sun.

Crassula deltoidea flowering in habitat. Photographer: Gerhard Marx.

This tiny desert plant has fleshy white mealy-coated leaves for protection against the sun.