Crassula brevifolia thriving on stone

Give it time and Crassula brevifolia subsp. brevifolia may achieve robust growth, perched over its crevice in a granitic hillside sheetrock. The little water accumulating here from rain or dew can sometimes not sink further than the roots can reach, bringing about an above-average allocation for a plant of the region.

Fully exposed where temperature extremes impact relentlessly, the plant flowers exultantly from several stem-tips. Blooms appear in autumn until after midwinter.

Only lower down the older leaves appear darkened, possibly from hardship of seasons yet lying in store for the prettier young ones up top.

The photo was taken near Springbok (Le Roux, et al, 2005).