Crassula arborescens, a bonsai forest

Crassula arborescens may abound on hillsides of the Little Karoo around Van Wyksdorp and to the west, along karoid parts of the Breede River valley towards Robertson. This more common subspecies of the beestebal, C. arborescens subsp. arborescens, is also common in the arid land of the Great Karoo between the Hex River and Prince Albert.

Scattered on this sunny slope, it performs the role of large shrub, providing shade and shelter to whatever is small and roots under it. Or flies, walks and crawls to it for permanent or temporary respite.

C. arborescens reminds of C. ovata, a green-leaved member of the genus. Both reach sizes between 1 m and 3 m, way above the typical average for Crassula plants. The thick, coin-like leaves are similar, at least as far as the C. ovata plants with the more rounded leaves are concerned.

The soft, swollen stems bestow a squat, miniature tree appearance upon both plants (Van Jaarsveld, et al, 2006; Coates Palgrave, 2002).