Crassula tillaea
Crassula tillaea · Crassulaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around crassula tillaea and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, tiny and fleshy
- Flowering
- Summer (June to August), white or pink flowers
- Adult size
- 5 to 15 cm tall, spreading habit
- Growth
- Very slow
- Hardiness
- Low, prefers protection (light frosts tolerated)
- Origin
- South Africa and desert regions
- Soil type
- Well-drained, mineral, poor
Care
Moderate watering
Water lightly to moderately during the growing season (spring-summer), then reduce drastically in autumn-winter. Let it dry between waterings to prevent root rot. In winter, decrease to very occasional watering.
Abundant light
Place Crassula tillaea in full sun or very bright light. This tiny succulent needs intense light conditions to stay compact and well-colored. Insufficient light causes etiolation.
Mineral and well-draining substrate
Use a special succulent mix with sand, gravel and poor soil. Adding perlite or pumice improves drainage. A pot with drainage holes is essential.
Light fertilizing
Apply very diluted fertilizer (succulent-specific) once or twice in spring-summer only. This plant prefers poor soils; excess fertilizer makes it soft and prone to disease.
Occasional cleaning
No strict pruning necessary. Simply remove dead or dried leaves to maintain appearance. Pinch lightly if you want to encourage a more branched habit.
Preventing rot
Root rot is the main risk if there's excess moisture. Check drainage and reduce watering in winter. Mealybugs may occasionally infest; regularly inspect the rosettes.
Did you know?
Crassula tillaea is one of the smallest cultivable succulent plants, forming delicate rosettes just a few centimeters across. In South Africa, its natural habitat is colonized for only a few weeks per year during winter rains, which explains its extreme adaptation to drought and its minimal water needs.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.