Description

Crassula capitella (commonly known as “red flames” or “red pagoda”) is a perennial succulent plant native to southern Africa ^[1].

Growth Habit and Size of Crassula capitella

An extremely variable species. The narrow, pointed, splayed (“propeller-like”^[2]) leaves are initially a light green, but become a strong reddish colour in the sun.^[3]

The leaves are stacked, and near the base of the rosette they are larger. Near the top of a rosette, the leaves gradually get smaller and change into floral bracts, as the stem forms a long, pointed inflorescence.^[4]

It is a small, succulent herb (15-40 cm in height) – with stems that are either erect or rambling and mat-forming. Each stem forms roots at its internodes, which take root if the stem lies against the ground.

Crassula capitella is mostly biennial, blooming in the summer, with small, white, star-shaped flowers forming all around each thick, upright stem. ^[1][5] It grows to a height of about 6 inches tall, and may be damaged when exposed to temperatures below 30 °F (−1 °C).^[5]

Plant Care and Cultivation of Crassula capitella

Crassula capitella prefer full sun to partial shade, average watering needs, and shouldn’t be exposed to temperatures below 30 °F (−1 °C).^[5][6] It may suffer from foliage edema, which may be the result of rapid changes in moisture.^[5]

Distribution of the “red flames” or “red pagoda” plant

Crassula capitella is native to southern Africa; it is found in Transvaal, Free State, Eastern Cape, and in some parts of southern Namibia and Botswana.^[1]

Subspecies

• Crassula capitella subsp. capitella ‘campfire’: biennial basal rosette with smooth (hairless) stems and unbranched spike inflorescence.^[1]
• Crassula capitella subsp. enantiophylla^[1]
• Crassula capitella subsp. meyeri: a decumbent subspecies from the sandy coastline of KwaZulu-Natal^[1]
• Crassula capitella subsp. nodulosa: a perennial shrub with one or two rosettes on hairy stems.^[1]
• Crassula capitella subsp. sessilicymula: a perennial shrub (40cm) with a woody trunk and branched inflorescence.^[1]
• Crassula capitella subsp. thyrsiflora: a perennial shrub with multiple pinkish-red rosettes, that become stacked in a pagoda form (“red pagoda”) and an unbranched spike inflorescence. ^[1]
• Crassula capitella subsp. corymbulosa^[7]
• Crassula capitella ‘pagoda village’ – smallest variety with compact stacked growth that resembles miniature pagodas.

Companion plants that grow well with Crassula capitella

► Browse: Portulacaria afra – spekboom

► Browse: Lampranthus amoenus – darling Lampranthus

► Browse: Othonna capensis – little pickles

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References

1.  Court, Doreen (2000). Succulent Flora of Southern Africa. CRC Press. p. 84. ISBN 9789058093233.
2.  Crassula capitella – PlantZAfrica.com
3. Baldwin, Debra Lee (2010). Succulent Container Gardens. Timber Press. p. 92. ISBN 9780881929591. crassula capitella.
4. G.Rowley (2003): Crassula: a grower’s guide. Cactus & Co, libri. Italy.
5. San Marcos Growers: Crassula capitella Campfire (Campfire Crassula) . accessed 5.7.2013
6.  “PlantFiles: Crassula Crassula capitella ‘Campfire‘“. davesgarden.com. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
7.  “Crassula capitella subsp. thyrsiflora – Red Pagoda | World of Succulents”. World of Succulents. 2014-02-16. Retrieved 2018-02-17.

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This article uses material from the Wikipedia article “Crassula capitella”, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.