Want to learn more about Crassula nudicaulis var. herrei Care? Keep reading about this low-growing succulent that forms shrubs of thick chubby leaves. The foliage ranges in colors of green to yellow with pink edges depending on sun exposure. Look for small greenish flowers clusters in spring and late summer.
Water
Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch, then let drain completely
Light
Full sun
USDA Zone
9a to 11b
Temperature
Prefers average summer temps (65ºF/18ºC – 70ºF/21ºC)
Soil
Light and free draining, rich, gritty
Fertilizer
Fertilize monthly during the growing season
Size
Up to 10 inches (25 cm) tall
Scientific Name
Crassula nudicaulis var. herrei
Common Names
Crassula herrei, Naked-Stalked Crassula
Pronunciation
KRASS-yoo-luh new-dee-KAW-liss HER-ray-eye
Flower
Greenish flowers
Toxicity
Generally toxic to dogs and cats
This Crassula features a wonderful structural leaf form with a beautiful red blush at the tips and leaf margins of each fleshy leaf. It offsets readily from the stem. If watered sparingly, this plant is extremely easy to keep.
Succulents, including Crassula, store water in the plump leaves to survive drought. This plant does not have very high watering needs. Replicate its natural habitat by giving your Crassula a deep watering. Then, let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
Crassula Nudicaulis only needs minimal water during the winter. Remember, as with most succulents, less is more! If in doubt, be sure to use a moisture meter. Very inexpensive and it really helped me when I was new to succulents.
Crassula Nudicaulis Var. Herrei does well in bright indoor light or full sun once acclimated. While Crassula Nudicaulis Var. Herrei can tolerate partially shaded conditions, it will put on the best growth and coloration in bright sun.
Crassula Plants are not cold hardy. They do well in the ground or in a pot outside in warm or hot climates. Be sure to move your Crassula Nudicaulis Var. Herrei inside when temperatures fall below 20° F (-6.6° C). Allow indoor Crassula Nudicaulis Plants to get 4-5 hours of indirect sunlight in order to flourish.
Well-draining soil is essential for keeping Crassulas happy. If your succulent is left sitting in water, it’s susceptible to rot and fungal diseases. Add pumice or perlite to the soil to help increase extra drainage and be sure to pick a pot with a drainage hole. I also like adding coarse sand with perlite to commercial potting soil for 2:1:1 ratio. Even when I use a commercial cactus soil mix I still add perlite for increased drainage.
Crassulas need to be repotted every few years to avoid compacted soil. Repot during the summer when the soil is dry. Start by gently brushing the soil off the roots. Inspect the roots for rot or other problems that are usually underground. Place in fresh well-draining soil and hold off on watering for a few days. This will allow the roots to get comfortable and heal from any damage during transfer.
Fertilizer isn’t a priority with this plant. If you want to give it a try though, do so during the summer with succulent or cactus fertilizer. It should be liquid and balanced or low-nitrogen.
All Crassulas are generally toxic to dogs and cats. Keep away from small children jut to be sure.
Crassula Nudicaulis Var. Herrei naturally propagate via offsets. If you want to speed up the propagation process, this can be done by leaf and stem cuttings. Once you have the process down, you can easily multiply your Crassula collection.
Leaf cuttings are taken by carefully removing the leaf off of the stem. Gently twist the leaf to ensure that you remove the entire leaf and don’t leave any parts behind. This will increase the chances of successful propagation. That section in between the leaf and stem is what enables the cutting to grow roots.
After removing the leaf, let it dry out for a few days so that the ends can callous over. Once dry, set it on top of well-draining soil and mist it with water. Keep the soil damp until new roots have grown in. As the leaves begin to take root, return to a regular watering schedule.
Stem cuttings follow almost the exact same process as leaf cuttings. Take a sharp pair of clean shears or scissors and cut 2-3 inch long stem cuttings. This may be a frightening experience at first, but eventually you will be happy with the results. When removing offsets or stem cuttings, allow them to dry for three to five days (depending on your climate) before planting in soil or propagating in water.
Water propagation is one of my favorite methods and you can read more here. When placing in soil make sure the stem cutting is upright, and in well-draining soil. You can test if it has roots by gently pulling on it. If there is resistance, it has established some roots. The base should eventually produce new babies. Follow the above watering suggested watering instructions for leaf cuttings.
Look for small greenish flowers clusters in spring and late summer.
Be wary of overwatering your Crassula, which is the number one killer of succulents. Overwatering kills succulents much faster than underwatering. Symptoms of overwatering include yellow, mushy leaves that easily fall off. Remedy this issue by removing your succulent from the overwatered soil and place it in fresh well-draining soil. Hold off on watering for a week or so. If you still aren’t sure of when to water, a moisture meter will take out the guesswork.
Underwatering is harmful to Crassulas, but much easier to fix. Give your succulent a good drink and it will usually perk up. When underwatered, the succulent leaves will shrivel up and the plant will wilt. They can also send out air roots. Read more about air roots here.
Etiolation is a common, but easily preventable problem with succulents. When the plant isn’t getting enough sunlight, it stretches toward the sun. If you don’t keep your crassula in a bright location, it will grow stretched and less attractive.
Once stretched out, it will not return to its tight rosette. Propagate the stem as mentioned above to give it a second chance and increase your collection size.
The genus name comes from the Latin word crassus meaning thick for the thick leaves. Nudicaulis in Latin means with leafless stem. Herrei is named for Dr. Hans Herre, 20th century botanist and expert on South African succulents.
They generally do not require a lot of maintenance. The bottom leaves will brown and die off as the Crassula grows, and this is normal. Be sure to remove these to keep the plant healthy and so that it does not attract pests like the evil mealy bug!
Mealybugs are the biggest pest threat to your succulents. They love to hide in crevices on your Crassula so be sure to inspect your plants regularly. If signs of mealy bugs appear in the form of a white cottony web or disfigured leaves, be sure to eradicate them immediately. These small white scale insects drink the sap out of plants and secrete honeydew that attracts ants. A Q-tip dipped in alcohol or a spray from an organic pest killing soap will do the trick. Read my complete post on mealybugs eradication here.
Aphids are less common but still a potential threat to Crassulas. Like mealybugs, they suck out the sap. If left untreated, they will eventually kill your succulent. Protect your echeveria by applying diatomaceous earth to the soil and neem oil to the succulent. Use insecticidal soap to control existing infestations.
Learn more about Mealybug and pest eradication here.
Crassula Diseases
Make sure you never let your Crassula stand in water or else the chances of root rot and other fungal diseases will increase. Root rot is caused by consistent moisture and can lead to bacterial infections. The good news is that it is easy to prevent. Avoid overwatering and use a well-draining soil.
Root rot is best caught early, so routinely check for rot on your Crassula. Rotted sections will be brown or black and mushy. The rot usually starts in the roots and spreads up the stem. If you find an infected part, you’ll have to remove it or else it will spread. After cutting away the rotted section, leave your succulent out of the soil for a few days so it can dry out and callous over. Repot in fresh well-draining soil and keep an eye on watering.
Crassula Sunburn
Brown spots may appear on your Crassula. These are most likely from sunburn. Move your plant out of direct heat to prevent further damage. Learn how to save your sunburned succulents here.
Crassula Nudicaulis VAR. Herrei
4″ plant will ship semi-bare root (no pot/some soil) carefully wrapped in tissue paper in packaging.
Shop our favorite products!
SEE MORE HOUSEPLANT TIPS:
Related Articles
5 ways you are Killing your Jade Plant
Dieffenbachia Care, Problems, & Propagation
Caladium Plant Care Guide & Growing Tips
Air Plant Care Guide – Tillandsias
Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum) Care
10 Flowering Plants That Are Better Than a Bouquet
Join our email mailing list
Sign up for the MoodyBloomsCo.com blog alerts and once subscribed, I will send you a notification when a new post has been made.
Spread the word!
Support Moody Blooms by using the affiliate links to shop. We receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) so we can continue to create helpful free content. Thank you, we appreciate it!
