Crassula capitella thyrsiflora in the ground

Credit: FarOutFlora

Crassula capitella thyrsiflora in pot

Credit: Sean A. O'Hara

Crassula capitella thyrsiflora in flower

Credit: Vahe Martirosyan

Crassula capitella thysriflora flowers

Credit: Nicola van Berketl

Crassula capitella thyrsiflora, a red pagoda succulent

How about adding a touch of Asia to your garden or veranda? The rosettes of Crassula capitella subsp. thyrsiflora stack up like a red pagoda! But don't be fooled by appearances! This subspecies of Crassula capitella is not native to China or Indonesia, but to southern Africa, like crassula lanuginosa.

How to recognize Crassula capitella subsp. thyrsiflora, the red pagoda?

Crassula capitella thyrsiflora is a succulent plant with a bushy habit. It grows to no more than 20 centimetres in height.

Crassula capitella thyrsiflora grows from rosettes of compact, tightly packed leaves. The fleshy, triangular blades are superimposed on each other along the stem. Green and tinged with pink at the base, the leaves become increasingly reddish and smaller towardsthe top. This contrast and the geometric pattern they form have earned the plant its nickname of red pagoda.

White flowers appear at the ends of unbranched spike-like inflorescences in summer and autumn.

The plant is not known for its toxicity and can be grown around children and pets. In southern Africa, even the dried, crushed roots of Crassula capitella subsp. Thyrsiflora were used to heal wounds.

Our maintenance tips

Crassula capitella thyrsiflora are very slow-growing. So you won't have to take them home very often. But you will have to be patient to see new leaves appear!

Watering

Make sure the soil is completely dry before watering. Pour room-temperature water over the potting soil, without wetting the foliage.

Do not leave standing water in the cup.

Spray

Crassula capitella thyrsiflora grow in arid regions and do not like humidity. No need to spray them.

Repotting

Every spring, repot your Crassula capitella subsp. Thyrsiflora to give it more space.

Choose a pierced pot and line the bottom with a layer of clay balls or gravel.

Then pour in a draining substrate, such as potting soil for cacti and succulents, or potting soil for green plants enhanced with sand and perlite.

Plant your Crassula capitella thyrsiflora and add substrate if necessary. Water to remove air bubbles and encourage rooting.

Fertilization

To promote the growth of your Crassula capitella subsp. Thyrsiflora, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.

Add cactus and succulent fertilizer to watering water.

If you're repotting every year, there's no need to add fertilizer. Your plant will find sufficient nutrients in its substrate.

Plantation

When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.

Crassula capitella thyrsiflora love light, but dread direct sunlight, especially in the hottest hours. To ensure that your plant gets plenty of light without damaging its foliage, choose a location with half-shade or bright indirect light.

Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball. Plant your Crassula capitella thyrsiflora and backfill.

Water withoutsoaking the soil to encourage rooting.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Locate a healthy, flowerless stem. Using clean, sharp pruning shears, remove a section about ten centimeters long.

Remove the leaves at the bottom of the stem. Leave to dry for at least 24 hours, until a callus forms at the base.

Choose a pierced pot suited to the size of your cuttings. Choose a terracotta model. This material promotes uniform drying of the soil and reduces the risk of root rot.

Line the bottom with a bed of clay balls or gravel. Then pour in a substrate made up of equal parts potting soil, garden soil and sand. Plant your cutting and tamp it down. You can add a layer of sand to the surface.

Place your cutting in a bright spot away from direct sunlight. The temperature should be at least 18 degrees.

Disease / Threat

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Crassulaceae - Crassulaceae
Type	Crassula - Crassula
Species	Crassula capitella - Crassula capitella
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Sun
Substrat	Sandy soil
Planting method	In pots
Category	Succulent
Tags	Beginner Small pot
Origin	South Africa
Hardiness (USDA)	9b
Leaf color
Flower color