Crassula arborescens Curly Grey

The Crassula arborescens 'Curly Grey' is a small bush of South African origin that charms with its very undulating succulent foliage in very soft grey tones and its spreading habit, easy to prune into a dense ball. Not very hardy, it is a plant quickly grown in a pot, indoors, in the conservatory or on the balcony during the summer. Outside, in a coastal garden protected from frost, this picturesque plant creature looks fabulous in a rockery or on a slope with other succulent plants.

The Crassula arborescens 'Curly Grey' is a succulent subshrub of the Crassulaceae family. Most species of the genus Crassula are native to South Africa, where they thrive in bright environments in well-drained, lightweight soils that remain dry during the winter season. The arborescens species require little watering, as its fleshy leaves serve as storage during drier periods. Crassula arborescens is often cultivated as an indoor plant because it does not survive temperatures below -5 °C at its peak. It should be stored indoors, protected from frost, from October onwards. In nature, this bush can reach 3 to 4 m (10 to 13ft). Its winter flowering, white in colour, is quite rare.

The Crassula 'Curly Grey' is a plant that grows quite slowly. It develops a rigid, thick stem measuring up to 10 cm (4in) in diameter, ramified, mimicking a trunk topped with a crown. The bush reaches a height of about 70-80 cm (28-32in) in the long term, with a spread of 60-70 cm (24-28in). The stems bear numerous oblong to rounded, strongly curved, thick, fleshy, more or less greyish leaves. The edge of the lamina turns pink to reddish under the sun's effect. The flowering only occurs on mature plants, after many years, and randomly depending on the growing conditions. It takes the form of flower stalks bearing corymbs of tiny star-shaped, white flowers measuring approximately 5 mm (1in) in diameter. This plant's superficial roots allow it to be quickly grown in pots. In a rockery, watering is unnecessary once the plant has been established.

In very mild climates, by the seaside, it is possible to plant the Crassula arborescens 'Curly Grey' in a rockery or on a well-drained slope alongside the Cape Aster Felicia amelloides, Delospermas, and Sedums that thrive in the same conditions. It also pairs well with the astonishing Mangaves. Elsewhere, it can be planted in a beautiful pot alone or combined with other succulent plants such as sempervivums.