€10,60

🌱 Morphology

Broad-leaved Crassula · Naked-stem Crassula. Small perennial succulent, with a very compact habit, having a practically non-existent or extremely short stem. The leaves are densely concentrated around the base, forming an almost basal rosette.

The leaves are the most characteristic feature of this variety: broadly obovate to almost rounded, flat, rigid, and glabrous, measuring approximately 2.5–3 × 1.9–2.5 cm. They display a bluish-green or bluish-grey hue and, depending on light intensity and temperature, may acquire reddish or burgundy tones. The margins may feature small cilia, a useful character to differentiate it from other forms of C. nudicaulis.

The rosette remains low for much of the year, but during flowering, a long peduncle emerges that can reach 20–25 cm, protruding clearly above the plant.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family

Family Crassulaceae. It is an entity endemic to South Africa, restricted mainly to the mountains of the southern Great Karoo, from the vicinity of Worcester towards Prince Albert and Beaufort West, in the Cape provinces. It grows on dry rocky slopes, often in very exposed positions.

Its distribution corresponds to arid and semi-arid environments of the Karoo, where water availability is very irregular and drainage is extremely rapid. SANBI currently considers this variety Least Concern.

From a taxonomic point of view, Crassula platyphylla Harv. is the basionym and is currently considered a synonym of Crassula nudicaulis var. platyphylla.

❄️ Temperature

USDA Zone 9b–11b. It is a plant of arid and exposed environments, capable of withstanding relatively low temperatures when dry and properly acclimatized.

During episodes of intense cold, it is especially important to prevent the substrate from remaining damp. The combination of low temperatures and excess water is considerably more dangerous than dry cold.

☀️ Lighting

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

High light availability helps maintain the compact form of the rosette and encourages the bluish, reddish, or burgundy tones that the foliage can develop. Specimens grown in low light should be progressively acclimatized to higher radiation levels.

💧 Growth cycle and watering

Summer dormancy. Its origin in the southern Great Karoo, a region of marked aridity and summer drought, advises managing it with a cycle of activity during more moderate seasons and reduced watering during periods of intense heat.

During the active growth phase, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry completely before watering again.

When temperatures are high and the plant clearly reduces its activity, watering should be spaced out significantly, and it can be kept practically dry during the hottest periods. Frequent, small amounts of water that keep the root zone continuously damp are not recommended.

In this variety, it is especially important to observe the plant's response: the geographical position of its habitat indicates an arid environment, but does not justify imposing a rigid watering schedule.

🌸 Flowering

The inflorescence emerges on an erect peduncle of about 20–25 cm, pubescent and slightly grooved, ending in a long and narrow thyrse, with small groups of flowers very close to each other. The flowers have petals fused at the base and a characteristic dorsal extension.

In cultivation, flowering is usually described during the summer, with small, light-toned flowers, but the date may vary depending on the temperature regime and the cultivation cycle. In Spain, it can generally be expected between June and August.

🌿 Nutrition

During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, using a moderate dose.

Before the flower stalk emerges, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering. Do not fertilize during rest periods or when temperatures are too high and the plant has clearly ceased its activity.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot, with the 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 plant measurements are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly, because, it is a living being! Each Desert CITY plant has unique characteristics.

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