€21,20

🌱 Morphology

  Wavy jade plant. A perennial shrubby succulent with a much more developed habit than many Crassula, capable of forming a shrub up to about 2 m tall, with thick, succulent branches that become woody with age.

The leaves are the main distinguishing feature compared to Crassula arborescens subsp. arborescens. They are elliptic, lanceolate, ovate to obovate, approximately 2.5–4 × 1.2–2 cm, narrower, more elongated, and noticeably less fleshy than those of the typical subspecies. They are arranged erectly on the branches and have a bluish-green or intensely glaucous surface, with margins that may show reddish waviness.

This combination of elongated, erect leaves with wavy margins is precisely the characteristic that gives the subspecies undulatifolia its name.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family

Family Crassulaceae. It is a highly localized endemic of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, restricted to the southern areas of the Klein Winterhoek mountains. Kew currently recognizes Crassula arborescens subsp. undulatifolia as an accepted subspecies.

It grows on rocky slopes and sheltered ravines, on soils derived from sandstone and shale, although it can also appear in stony and gravelly areas. In its natural range, it is part of communities related to fynbos and renosterveld, preferentially occupying sunny, exposed sites, although it also grows in valleys.

It is an extraordinarily localized plant: SANBI notes a known population in a single gorge in the Klein Winterhoek mountains and classifies it as Critically Rare in its conservation assessment.

❄️ Temperature

USDA Zone 9b

Its origin in the Eastern Cape allows it to tolerate relatively low temperatures when the substrate remains dry and the roots are well-aerated. Tolerance decreases considerably when low temperatures coincide with persistent moisture.

☀️ Lighting

Intense lighting is recommended, with a target of 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of PAR DLI during the growing period.

High radiation promotes a compact habit, maintains the bluish hue of the leaves, and enhances the reddish coloration of their margins. In low light conditions, the stems may elongate and the leaves lose color intensity.

💧 Growth cycle and watering

Winter dormancy Its origin in the Eastern Cape is important for correctly interpreting its watering needs. Unlike species from the western regions of the Cape subjected to a very pronounced summer drought, this subspecies lives in an environment with a different climate and presents reproductive activity in midsummer.

Therefore, it is not advisable to impose absolute summer dormancy. During the periods when the plant maintains active growth and temperatures are moderate, it is recommended to water abundantly and let the substrate dry out completely before watering again.

During intense heatwaves, water input should be reduced and ventilation increased, especially if growth slows down. In winter, if temperatures are low and the plant remains inactive, watering should also be spaced out considerably.

The correct pattern is, therefore, full hydration during activity + complete drying of the substrate, adjusting the frequency to the temperature and the plant's actual growth.

🌸 Flowering

It produces densely branched terminal inflorescences, slightly raised above the foliage. The flowers are star-shaped, white to pink, gathered in approximately spherical heads. After pollination, the flowers acquire a papery brown hue and can remain decorative for quite a long time.

A particularly interesting characteristic of this subspecies is its flowering in mid-Southern summer, according to Crassulaceae.ch. In Madrid conditions, the approximate equivalent would be January–March, although the actual date will depend on the temperature and the cultivation regime.

🌿 Nutrition

We recommend Desert CHOICE® Succulents, applied during periods of active growth and adjusting the frequency to the temperature and the plant's development.

As the inflorescences approach, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.

This is an inimitable xerophyte cultivated in Madrid in a technological square pot and with a substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:

S -> 9cm x 9cm

M-> 14cm x 14 cm

L->16cm x 16 cm

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The description on the photo specifies the plant's measurements, but this may also vary slightly, because it is a living thing! Each of the plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.

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