Crassula obovata var obovata
White to cream, December to June; summer autumn winter
Sun; semi-shade; slope bank; rockery; damp sun; roof garden; rockery; walls; wildlife bees insects butterflies butterfly host
rocky places; cliffs; coastal eastern cape; coastal kzn
egion:subtropical east coast; thicket
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A gift from a friend, this small Crassula species has quickly become a summer/ autumn favourite in my garden. While various texts describe it as a straggling perennial, a few nips encourage a froth of flowers above a more compact set of leaves. And the leaves are as attractive as the flowers. Quite variable, growth form can be either upright or reclining; where they touch the ground, flowering tips curve upwards again. Stems are purplish-red against which the bright green, somewhat succulent leaves gleam. The leaves are small, 10 -3- x 5 – 10 mm in size, edged in red, or overall red in a hot, dry season. Leaf tips are blunt or can end in a point, are either hairy or hairless! A tough one for wildflower hunters to identify. There are two varieties, (obovata and dregeana) that differ in the occurrence of leaf hairs and flower size. According to Doreen Court in her book, Succulents of Southern Africa, C. obovata is similar to C. setulosa but differs in having longer petals (5 – 8 mm) and branches longer than 200 mm. Leaves of C. obovata var. obovata are slightly fleshy and carry minute eyelashes or cilia. Flowers: flower heads are made up of a few short white to cream tubes that open to flat-topped heads that curl back like a florist's ribbon. Pink tipped stamens peep just above the petals, and red/ pink leaf-like bracts clasp the lower ends of the flowers. Flowering occurs from December to June.