Portulacaria pygmaea rouged leaves

The leaves of the mostly evergreen Portulacaria pygmaea plant grow sessile (stalkless) and decussate (opposite in pairs and perpendicular to the previous and following pairs on the stem) from a multitude of very short, cylindrical branches with silver-grey bark.

These branches emerge from the knotty, irregularly shaped caudex, the tuberous storage body positioned largely underground. Old plants may form low, flattish, leafy mounds on the ground.

The ovoid to globular, very succulent leaves are blue-green, yellow-green or green tinged red, like jelly beans. The leaf surfaces are finely warty from nearly round papillae (fleshy protrusions), unlike jelly beans. The leaves become 5 mm to 14 mm long and 9 mm wide, varying much in size. Leaves fall off very easily but new leaves also appear readily (Williamson, 2010; iNaturalist; www.llifle.com).