Crassula radicans Small Red

The Crassula radicans 'Small Red' is a small succulent plant that forms a carpet, with its green succulent leaves bordered in red perfectly aligned along its upright stems. The foliage turns red in full sun, transforming the plant into a true red carpet. It blooms in late winter or early spring with small creamy yellow star-shaped flowers. Not very hardy, it is a plant that can be easily grown in a pot outdoors as long as it enjoys full light and a well-drained, dry substrate, and it should be stored in a bright, frost-free room in winter.

The Crassula pubescens ssp. radicans is a perennial succulent plant in the family Crassulaceae. Most species in the genus are native to South Africa, where they thrive in bright environments with well-drained, 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 radicans is most commonly grown as an indoor plant, as it cannot survive temperatures below -3 or -4 degrees (26.6 or 24.8°F) Celsius at its coldest. It should be stored indoors, protected from frost, from the end of autumn onwards.

The Crassula 'Small Red' is a slow-growing, compact, upright perennial shrub. It reaches a height of about 25 to 35 cm (10 to 14in) but spreads laterally through rooting stems that anchor into the ground. The branched stems bear small, fleshy, shiny, jade green leaves with red edges arranged in a regular and geometric pattern. The leaf blades turn entirely red under the effect of the sun. Flowering occurs from February to April on mature plants. It forms very light corymbs of tiny star-shaped flowers measuring 2 to 8 cm (1 to 3in) in diameter, grouped at the ends of reddish petioles. They are slightly fragrant.

In very mild climates, by the seaside, it is possible to plant the Crassula radicans 'Small Red' in rockeries or on well-drained slopes alongside the Cape Daisy Felicia amelloides, Delospermas, and purslanes, which appreciate the same conditions. Elsewhere, you can plant it in a beautiful pot, alone or paired with other succulent plants such as sempervivums.