Adromischus cristatus aka Crinkle Leaf Plant

Adromischus cristatus is a small succulent in the Crassulaceae family. Gardeners know it as crinkle leaf plant or key lime pie. It comes from South Africa's Cape region, with records in the Eastern Cape. These include lower Baviaanskloof and Langkloof, west of Humansdorp. Wild plants grow among succulent thickets on rocky slopes. They also occupy sheltered rock outcrops where shade offers cover.

This evergreen plant forms low clumps of fleshy leaf rosettes. The RHS gives a garden height near 1 foot [0.3 metres]. Plants may take two to five years to mature. Short, upright stems bear glandular hairs and fibrous roots. Reddish aerial roots can form a tangled coat around stems. Thick leaves widen towards their tips, which have rippled edges. Their shapes range from broad triangles to longer, rounded forms. Leaf colour ranges from green to grey-green, sometimes with dark marks. Fine hairs can give the leaves a soft, felted surface. Some leaves have few hairs or none at all.

Tall green stalks rise above the leaves to carry flowers. The white blooms have pink tints and spreading, star-like tips. Darker edges can mark the flower lobes. The RHS records flowering in spring and summer. Chicago Botanic Garden lists blooms from July through October. Its colour records include both white and red. These sources show that flowering dates differ between growing settings.

In cultivation, give this plant full sun and good airflow. Use cactus compost or another mix that drains fast. Loam and sand suit it when water drains freely. It accepts acidic, neutral and alkaline soil. Water from spring through autumn once the compost has dried. Keep it dry through winter and above 7°C. The RHS rates it H2, so it cannot withstand freezing. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA zones 9–10. The plant resists drought and needs no routine pruning.

Grow it as a houseplant or in a greenhouse. It also suits conservatories and patio pots under suitable conditions. Its low mound makes it useful as a specimen plant. The RHS considers it easy enough for new growers. Sow seeds in spring or take leaf and stem cuttings in summer. Mealybugs and greenfly may attack it. Disease causes few problems, but wet soil can lead to root rot.