Crassula exilis subsp. sedifolia

The Crassula exilis ssp Sedifolia is a small South African succulent plant that forms a dense ground cover in poor, sandy or rocky soils. Its tiny succulent leaves, a somewhat greyish green, speckled with black, highlight its long and delicate white flowering. Not very hardy, it is a plant easily cultivated in a pot for winter. Outdoors in a coastal garden or protected from severe frosts, this discreet beauty is ideal above walls, in rockeries, or on green roofs.

The Crassula exilis ssp Sedifolia is a succulent perennial of the family Crassulaceae. Most species in the genus are native to South Africa, where they thrive in bright environments in well-draining, light soils that remain dry during the winter season. This species requires little watering, as its fleshy leaves serve as storage during drier periods. The Crassula exilis is sometimes grown as an indoor plant, as it cannot survive temperatures below -6 or -7 °C (21.2 or 19.4°F) at its peak. It should be moved indoors, protected from frost, from late autumn onwards.

The Crassula exilis is a highly branched plant with relatively slow growth. It reaches a height of about 10-15 cm (4-6in) but spreads laterally through rooting stems that anchor in the ground. The stems bear numerous rosettes of small, pointed, fleshy, shiny, green-grey leaves with black spots. The leaf blades sometimes turn pink under the sun. Flowering occurs from May to July on mature plants. It takes the form of short flower stalks that barely protrude from the foliage, bearing corymbs of tiny star-shaped flowers ranging from white to pinkish, measuring about 5 mm (1in) in diameter.

In mild coastal climates, it is possible to plant Crassula exilis Dedifolia in rockeries, above a wall, or on a well-drained slope, alongside Cape Aster Felicia amelloides, Delospermas, and purslanes, which thrive in similar conditions. Elsewhere, you can plant it in a beautiful pot, alone or in combination with other succulent plants like houseleeks.