Crassula tomentosa aka Furry Stonecrop

Crassula tomentosa also goes by the name woolly crassula. It belongs to Crassulaceae, the stonecrop family. Its native range starts in southwest Namibia. It extends into South Africa's Cape provinces. It grows on stony slopes in the Succulent and Nama Karoo. This succulent can live as a biennial or perennial. Plants form one rosette or a small group of rosettes. New heads can grow from the plant's base.

The leaves range from grey-green to green. They form tight groups close to the ground. Leaf shape, size, and hair cover vary across the species. Some leaves are broad and round; others narrow toward the base. Stiff hairs bend backward and give many plants a woolly look. Fine hairs also line the leaf edges. Old leaves stay on the stems as plants grow. With the right care, leaves curve inward to form a round head. The roots are fibrous and somewhat woody.

Plants reach about 2 feet [0.6 metres], including the flower stalk. This thick, upright stalk narrows toward its tip. Lower leaves crowd the base. Upper leaf pairs sit farther apart. Branched, spike-like thyrses hold tight groups of flowers along the stalk. The small flowers have white to yellowish tubes. Their anthers are black. The petal tips spread and bend back a little. Flowers appear from early to midsummer. Each rosette is monocarpic: it blooms once, sets seed, then dies. Other heads may live on after the head that blooms dies.

This species grows fast but can be hard to manage. It needs good light. Use a mineral growing mix that drains well. Keep the mix lean, not rich in nutrients. Give modest amounts of water from autumn through spring. Take care with water in winter. Keep watering at regular times in summer. Do not keep the plant too wet. Too little water makes the leaves shrivel. Too much makes the rosette spread and lose its tight shape. Grow it outdoors only in places with no frost. In other places, keep it indoors.

Small bonsai pots suit its small form and textured leaves. Use only small amounts of fertilizer in the growing season. Rich feeding can cause excess growth prone to fungal disease. Grow new plants from seeds or offsets. Sow seeds in autumn. Cuttings can root in clean river sand within two to three weeks.