Crassula tecta

Crassula tecta is a dwarf clumping succulent from the Little Karoo and adjacent semi-desert of South Africa. Its thick, rounded leaves are covered in white papillae that give a grey-white, textured look. It grows on dry, stony slopes in full sun, is active mainly in the cooler months, and has been cultivated since the 18th century.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Grows among stones on mountain slopes and flats in Succulent Karoo vegetation, in very sunny, low-rainfall country with hot summers and cold winter nights. The papillate leaf surface reflects light and helps the plant cope with intense sun.

Records carry no altitudes, but the localities (Ladismith, Calitzdorp, Prince Albert, Anysberg, Willowmore, Baviaanskloof) lie mostly at about 300–1,000 m.

Cape Provinces

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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More Crassula

Crassula coccinea Crassula ovata Crassula atropurpurea Crassula perfoliata Crassula capitella Crassula helmsii Crassula arborescens Crassula muscosa Crassula subaphylla Crassula aquatica Crassula decumbens Crassula multicava All 259 →

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY-SA 3.0 licence, unmodified.