Crassula multicava aka Cape Province Pygmyweed

Crassula multicava, or fairy crassula, comes from South Africa. It is a succulent that stays green all year. It belongs to Crassulaceae, the stonecrop family. Kew gives its native range as the southern Cape to southern KwaZulu-Natal. LLIFLE gives a wider range, which reaches Mpumalanga. It grows at forest edges, by rivers, and among coastal plants. It also grows in mountain areas and on disturbed ground. Plants have escaped from gardens in California, New Zealand, and other warm regions.

It can trail as ground cover or form small, upright subshrubs. Garden plants often stand about 0.3–1 foot [0.1–0.3 metres] tall. The RHS gives an upper height of 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. Its listed spread reaches 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. The soft, brittle stems break with ease. Fallen pieces can take root. Older stems turn reddish green and keep their leaves. Leaves grow in pairs, with round tips and smooth edges. In shade, they look glossy and dark green. More sun makes them paler. Tiny pits, called hydathodes, mark the leaf surfaces.

Loose sprays of flowers rise above the leaves on reddish stems. LLIFLE gives the bloom time as late winter into early spring. The RHS places bloom in spring. Pink buds open into small, star-shaped flowers of white or cream. The petal tips may have a red tint. Purple anthers add a small point of colour. Small plantlets can form along the stalks after bloom. The upright fruits, called follicles, may hold several seeds. The seeds are tiny, and plants seldom make them.

The RHS advises full light and a sandy growing mix that drains well. Cactus compost suits plants grown indoors or under heated glass. LLIFLE also calls for good drainage, since wet roots can rot. The supplied guidance on moisture ranges from dry to moist. The RHS rates this species H2; it cannot withstand freezing. In Britain, it suits life as a houseplant or in a heated greenhouse. Listed uses also include pots and sheltered patio displays. Its trailing growth makes it useful as ground cover, too. The RHS gives five to ten years to reach full size.

The RHS says plants need no routine pruning. Sow seed in early spring, or take spring and summer cuttings. LLIFLE advises a new pot in spring every two years. It calls for light feeding in the growing season, but none in winter. The RHS reports few disease problems when conditions suit the plant. Check plants for mealybugs, aphids, and vine weevils. Poor drainage still poses a risk of root rot.