220 Species of Genus Crassula

A World of Succulents: My Exploration of the Crassula Genus

Hi, I’m Ferb Vu, and I’m fascinated by the world of succulents. Their diverse forms, resilience, and adaptability have always captivated me. Among my favorites is the Crassula genus, a vast and varied group of plants offering a seemingly endless array of shapes, sizes, and colors.

The Crassula genus, belonging to the Crassulaceae family, boasts around 200 accepted species. These plants are predominantly native to South Africa, but they can also be found in other parts of the world. What unites them are their succulent leaves and stems, which allow them to thrive in arid environments.

Diving Deep into Diversity

One of the things I find most intriguing about Crassula is the sheer diversity within the genus. From the familiar jade plant (Crassula ovata) with its thick, oval leaves, to the more unusual Crassula perforata with its stacked, fused leaves that appear to be threaded onto the stem, there’s a Crassula to suit every taste.

Some Crassula species, like Crassula muscosa, have a creeping growth habit, making them ideal for ground cover or hanging baskets. Others, such as Crassula arborescens, can grow into impressive shrub-like specimens. The variation in leaf shape is equally remarkable, ranging from the rounded leaves of Crassula rupestris to the pointed, almost spiky leaves of Crassula tetragona.

This diversity isn’t just aesthetically pleasing; it also reflects the adaptability of the genus. Different Crassula species have evolved to thrive in a variety of habitats, from rocky outcrops to coastal cliffs. This adaptability is part of what makes them such popular houseplants – they can tolerate a wide range of conditions.

More Than Just a Pretty Face

While I admire the beauty of Crassula, I’m also drawn to their resilience. These plants are incredibly tough, able to withstand drought, heat, and even a bit of neglect. This hardiness makes them ideal for beginner gardeners or those who don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to plant care.

But don’t mistake their toughness for simplicity. Crassula can be surprisingly nuanced in their care requirements. Some, like the jade plant, prefer bright, direct sunlight, while others, such as Crassula helmsii, thrive in partial shade. Understanding the specific needs of each species is key to keeping them healthy and happy.

A Closer Look at Some Notable Species

To give you a better sense of the diversity within the Crassula genus, let’s take a closer look at species:

  1. Crassula acinaciformis Schinz
  2. Crassula alata (Viv.) A.Berger
  3. Crassula alba Forssk.
  4. Crassula alcicornis Schönland
  5. Crassula alpestris L.f.
  6. Crassula alsinoides (Hook.f.) Engl.
  7. Crassula alstonii Marloth
  8. Crassula alticola R.Fern.
  9. Crassula ammophila Toelken
  10. Crassula ankaratrensis Desc.
  11. Crassula anso-lerouxiae van Jaarsv.
  12. Crassula aphylla Schönland & Baker f.
  13. Crassula aquatica (L.) Schönland
  14. Crassula arborescens (Mill.) Willd.
  15. Crassula atropurpurea (Haw.) D.Dietr.
  16. Crassula aurusbergensis G.Will.
  17. Crassula ausensis Hutchison
  18. Crassula badspoortensis van Jaarsv.
  19. Crassula barbata Thunb.
  20. Crassula barklyi N.E.Br.
  21. Crassula basaltica Brullo & Siracusa
  22. Crassula bergioides Harv.
  23. Crassula bevilanensis Desc.
  24. Crassula biplanata Haw.
  25. Crassula brachystachya Toelken
  26. Crassula brevifolia Harv.
  27. Crassula calcarea N.H.G.Jacobsen
  28. Crassula campestris (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Endl.
  29. Crassula capensis (L.) Baill.
  30. Crassula capitella Thunb.
  31. Crassula ciliata L.
  32. Crassula clavata N.E.Br.
  33. Crassula closiana (Gay) Reiche
  34. Crassula coccinea L.
  35. Crassula colligata Toelken
  36. Crassula colorata (Nees) Ostenf.
  37. Crassula columella Marloth & Schönland
  38. Crassula columnaris L.f.
  39. Crassula compacta Schönland
  40. Crassula congesta N.E.Br.
  41. Crassula connata (Ruiz & Pav.) A.Berger
  42. Crassula cooperi Regel
  43. Crassula corallina L.f.
  44. Crassula cordata Thunb.
  45. Crassula cordifolia Baker
  46. Crassula cotyledonis Thunb.
  47. Crassula crassifolia N.H.G.Jacobsen
  48. Crassula cremnophila van Jaarsv. & A.E.van Wyk
  49. Crassula crenulata Thunb.
  50. Crassula cultrata L.
  51. Crassula cymbiformis Toelken
  52. Crassula cymosa P.J.Bergius
  53. Crassula deceptor Schönland & Baker f.
  54. Crassula decidua Schönland
  55. Crassula decumbens Thunb.
  56. Crassula deltoidea Thunb.
  57. Crassula dentata Thunb.
  58. Crassula dependens Bolus
  59. Crassula depressa (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Toelken
  60. Crassula dichotoma L.
  61. Crassula dodii Schönland & Baker f.
  62. Crassula drummondii (Torr. & A.Gray) Fedde
  63. Crassula elatinoides (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Friedrich
  64. Crassula elegans Schönland & Baker f.
  65. Crassula elsieae Toelken
  66. Crassula ericoides Haw.
  67. Crassula exilis Harv.
  68. Crassula expansa Aiton
  69. Crassula exserta (Reader) Ostenf.
  70. Crassula extrorsa Toelken
  71. Crassula fallax Friedrich
  72. Crassula fascicularis Lam.
  73. Crassula filiformis (Eckl. & Zeyh.) D.Dietr.
  74. Crassula flanaganii Schönland & Baker f.
  75. Crassula flava L.
  76. Crassula floribunda (Friedrich ex Toelken) N.R.Crouch, Gideon F.Sm. & D.Styles
  77. Crassula foveata van Jaarsv.
  78. Crassula fragarioides van Jaarsv. & Helme
  79. Crassula fusca Herre
  80. Crassula garibina Marloth & Schönland
  81. Crassula gemmifera Friedrich
  82. Crassula globularioides Britten
  83. Crassula glomerata P.J.Bergius
  84. Crassula grammanthoides (Schönland) Toelken
  85. Crassula granvikii Mildbr.
  86. Crassula grisea Schönland
  87. Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne
  88. Crassula hemisphaerica Thunb.
  89. Crassula hirsuta Schönland & Baker f.
  90. Crassula hirtipes Harv.
  91. Crassula humbertii Desc.
  92. Crassula hunua A.P.Druce
  93. Crassula inandensis Schönland & Baker f.
  94. Crassula inanis Thunb.
  95. Crassula intermedia Schönland
  96. Crassula karroica N.H.G.Jacobsen
  97. Crassula kirkii (Allan) A.P.Druce & Given
  98. Crassula lactea Aiton
  99. Crassula lanuginosa Harv.
  100. Crassula lasiantha E.Mey. ex Harv.
  101. Crassula latibracteata Toelken
  102. Crassula leachii R.Fern.
  103. Crassula longipes (Rose) M.Bywater & Wickens
  104. Crassula macowaniana Schönland & Baker f.
  105. Crassula manaia A.P.Druce & Sykes
  106. Crassula maputensis R.Fern.
  107. Crassula × marchandii Friedrich
  108. Crassula mataikona A.P.Druce
  109. Crassula mesembryanthemopsis Dinter
  110. Crassula mesembryanthoides (Haw.) D.Dietr.
  111. Crassula micans Vahl ex Baill.
  112. Crassula minuta Toelken
  113. Crassula minutissima Skottsb.
  114. Crassula mollis Thunb.
  115. Crassula moniliformis N.H.G.Jacobsen
  116. Crassula montana L.f.
  117. Crassula morrumbalensis R.Fern.
  118. Crassula × mortii Gideon F.Sm. & N.R.Crouch
  119. Crassula moschata G.Forst.
  120. Crassula multicaulis (Petrie) A.P.Druce & Given
  121. Crassula multicava Lem.
  122. Crassula multiceps Harv.
  123. Crassula multiflora Schönland & Baker f.
  124. Crassula muricata Thunb.
  125. Crassula muscosa L.
  126. Crassula namaquensis Schönland & Baker f.
  127. Crassula nanshanchunensis (S.S.Ying) S.S.Ying
  128. Crassula natalensis Schönland
  129. Crassula natans Thunb.
  130. Crassula nemorosa (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Endl.
  131. Crassula nodulosa Schönland
  132. Crassula nudicaulis L.
  133. Crassula numaisensis Friedrich
  134. Crassula nyikensis Baker
  135. Crassula oblanceolata Schönland & Baker f.
  136. Crassula obovata Haw.
  137. Crassula obtusa Haw.
  138. Crassula orbicularis L.
  139. Crassula ovata (Mill.) Druce
  140. Crassula pageae Toelken
  141. Crassula pallens Schönland & Baker f.
  142. Crassula papillosa Schönland & Baker f.
  143. Crassula peculiaris (Toelken) Toelken & Wickens
  144. Crassula peduncularis (Sm.) Cambess.
  145. Crassula pellucida L.
  146. Crassula peploides Harv.
  147. Crassula perfoliata L.
  148. Crassula perforata Thunb.
  149. Crassula phascoides (Griseb.) M.Bywater
  150. Crassula planifolia Schönland
  151. Crassula plegmatoides Friedrich
  152. Crassula pruinosa L.
  153. Crassula pseudhemisphaerica Friedrich
  154. Crassula pubescens Thunb.
  155. Crassula purcellii Schönland
  156. Crassula pustulata Toelken
  157. Crassula pyramidalis Thunb.
  158. Crassula qoatlhambensis Hargr.
  159. Crassula quadrifaria N.Jacobsen
  160. Crassula radicans (Haw.) D.Dietr.
  161. Crassula rattrayi Diels ex Schönland & Baker f.
  162. Crassula rhodesica (Merxm.) Wickens & M.Bywater
  163. Crassula rogersii Schönland
  164. Crassula roggeveldii Schönland
  165. Crassula ruamahanga A.P.Druce
  166. Crassula rubricaulis Eckl. & Zeyh.
  167. Crassula rudolfii Schönland & Baker f.
  168. Crassula rupestris L.f.
  169. Crassula saginoides (Maxim.) M.Bywater & Wickens
  170. Crassula sandrae N.H.G.Jacobsen
  171. Crassula sarcocaulis Eckl. & Zeyh.
  172. Crassula sarmentosa Harv.
  173. Crassula saxifraga Harv.
  174. Crassula scabra L.
  175. Crassula × scabrella Haw.
  176. Crassula schimperi Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
  177. Crassula sebaeoides (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Toelken
  178. Crassula sediflora (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Endl.
  179. Crassula sericea Schönland
  180. Crassula × serpentaria Schönland
  181. Crassula setulosa Harv.
  182. Crassula sieberiana (Schult. & Schult.f.) Druce
  183. Crassula simulans Schönland
  184. Crassula sinclairii (Hook.f.) A.P.Druce & Given
  185. Crassula sladenii Schönland
  186. Crassula smithii van Jaarsv., D.G.A.Styles & G.McDonald
  187. Crassula socialis Schönland
  188. Crassula solieri (Gay) F.Meigen
  189. Crassula southii Schönland
  190. Crassula spathulata Thunb.
  191. Crassula streyi Toelken
  192. Crassula strigosa L.
  193. Crassula stylesii Gideon F.Sm. & N.R.Crouch
  194. Crassula subacaulis Schönland & Baker f.
  195. Crassula subaphylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Harv.
  196. Crassula subulata L.
  197. Crassula susannae Rauh & Friedrich
  198. Crassula tabularis Dinter
  199. Crassula tecta Thunb.
  200. Crassula tenuicaulis Schönland
  201. Crassula tenuipedicellata Schönland & Baker f.
  202. Crassula tetragona L.
  203. Crassula tetramera (Toelken) A.P.Druce & Sykes
  204. Crassula thunbergiana Schult.
  205. Crassula tillaea Lest.-Garl.
  206. Crassula tomentosa Thunb.
  207. Crassula tuberella Toelken
  208. Crassula umbella Jacq.
  209. Crassula umbellata Thunb.
  210. Crassula umbraticola N.E.Br.
  211. Crassula undulata Haw.
  212. Crassula vaginata Eckl. & Zeyh.
  213. Crassula vaillantii (Willd.) Roth
  214. Crassula venezuelensis (Steyerm.) M.Bywater & Wickens
  215. Crassula vestita Thunb.
  216. Crassula viridis (S.Watson) M.Bywater & Wickens
  217. Crassula volkensii Engl.
  218. Crassula werneri N.H.G.Jacobsen
  219. Crassula whiteheadii Harv.
  220. Crassula zombensis Baker f.

My Continued Fascination

My journey with Crassula is far from over. I’m constantly learning new things about these fascinating plants, and I’m always on the lookout for new species to add to my collection. The world of Crassula is vast and varied, and I’m excited to continue exploring it.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, I highly recommend giving Crassula a try. These resilient and beautiful plants are sure to bring you joy for years to come.

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