Crassula orbicularis aka Sister's Bro

Crassula orbicularis belongs to the Crassulaceae family. It is a succulent, with leaves that stay green year-round. Kew calls its growth form a succulent subshrub. It grows in the subtropical parts of southern Africa. Its home range starts in the southwestern and southern Cape. From there, it reaches KwaZulu-Natal. The RHS lists Crassula rosularis as another name for it. It suits homes, glass rooms called conservatories, and greenhouses.

The plant forms clumps of flat leaf rings called rosettes. The leaves grow in a spiral within each rosette. Each leaf is fleshy and pointed, with a grey-green base colour. The leaves often take on red tones as well. Small new plants, called offsets, grow on thin stems. These grow around the parent rosettes. They help the plant spread into small mats over time. The RHS gives its height in gardens as 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. It gives the same range for the plant's spread. Plants reach full size in two to five years.

Small flowers grow in groups above the leaves. They range in colour from white to pale yellow. Their reddish stems rise from the centres of mature rosettes. The plant blooms in late summer and early autumn. Its green leaves keep the display going through winter. The rosettes, offsets and flowers give it most of its appeal.

Give the plant full light when you grow it indoors. The RHS advises using standard cactus compost in pots. It also lists loam as a soil that suits it. The soil must drain well and can be dry to moist. The plant can cope with acid, neutral and alkaline soils. The RHS lists sites that face south or west. These sites should have shelter. Its H2 rating means it copes with cool weather, but not freezing. This rating covers minimum temperatures of 1–5°C. Keep it safe from frost.

From spring through autumn, water in modest amounts. Keep the water off the leaves. Give a balanced liquid feed each month during this time. In winter, cut back and give just small amounts of water. You do not need to prune it as routine care. To grow more plants, take leaf cuttings or remove offsets. Lay the offsets on top of the soil to root. Aphids, mealybugs and vine weevil may attack the plant. Watch for these pests. The RHS reports few disease problems for this species.