Crassula capitella
Red flames
Family CrassulaceaeAlso called Red pagoda, Campfire plant
About
Crassula capitella, known as red flames, red pagoda or campfire plant, is a variable perennial succulent from southern Africa whose stacked, propeller-like leaves turn strong red in sun.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Not recorded. We have no source on whether this plant is safe for cats, dogs or other pets — that is not the same as safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked.
- People
- Not recorded.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade.
- Water
- Average watering; avoid sudden swings in moisture, which can cause leaf oedema.
- Temperature
- Keep above about −1 °C (30 °F).
- Mature size
- Stems 15–40 cm long, upright or sprawling into mats.
Field notes
Morphology
Narrow, pointed leaves are stacked in rosettes, largest at the base and shrinking into floral bracts as the stem lengthens into a pointed flower spike. Leaves start light green and redden in sun. Stems of 15–40 cm are upright or sprawl into mats, rooting at the nodes where they touch the ground. Small white star-shaped flowers appear in summer.
Distribution & habitat
Southern Africa: the former Transvaal, Free State and Eastern Cape in South Africa, and parts of southern Namibia and Botswana.
Cultivation notes
Grown in full sun to partial shade with average watering. It should be kept above about −1 °C and can develop leaf oedema after sudden changes in moisture.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- South Africa, Namibia, Botswana
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
- Temperature
- Keep above about −1 °C (30 °F).
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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