Crassula perforata

Crassula perforata is a drought tolerant, slow growing succulent, producing graphic rambling stems that require extra low maintenance.

Crassula perforata is perfect for rock gardens, terrariums, container planting, hanging baskets, or succulent displays.

Its unique texture, stacked leaf arrangement, and drought tolerance make it both visually appealing and easy to care for.

The shapes are particularly graphic and when they reach maturity, they can create a Tim Burton’s garden kind of feeling.

✂️Cut them back if they get too long or too leggy – they respond well to a trim!

Learn more about taking care of your Crassula perforata

• • FR: Entretien des Crassula perforata

  • ENG: String of Buttons Care

🌸 Floral Morphology: Crassula perforata

Crassula perforata produces small, star-shaped, creamy white to pink flowers in terminal clusters along the tips of the stems.

Flowers typically appear in late spring to summer and attract bees and other pollinators.

The leaves are triangular, slightly concave, and stacked in alternating pairs, which gives the stems a rope-like, spiral structure that is visually striking.

🌱 Reproductive Biology

This species reproduces both sexually via seeds and vegetatively via stem cuttings.

The hermaphroditic flowers can be pollinated by insects, but most gardeners propagate Crassula perforata through cuttings, as they root easily and maintain the plant’s stacked, upright structure.

Over time, it can form dense, cascading or upright clusters depending on planting conditions.

🌍 Ecology & Adaptations

Native to arid and semi-arid South African regions, Crassula perforata has several adaptations for dry, sunny environments:

• • Succulent leaves store water for survival during prolonged drought.

  • The spiraling, stacked leaf arrangement reduces water loss and maximizes light capture.

  • Prefers well-drained, sandy or rocky soils to avoid root rot.

  • Tolerates full sun and mild frost, though excessive humidity or prolonged cold can damage the foliage.

South Africa