Here’s an incredibly gorgeous and useful ground cover that when in flower will definitely make your friends and neighbors jealous! Crassula multicava belongs on a short list of ‘the best succulents to use,’ especially where other sun-loving ground covers won’t grow.
So by the way – this succulent is an excellent choice to grow beneath native oaks and pine trees.
But don’t try this ground cover in a frosty micro-climate. It doesn’t like frost, and as you can tell from the photos, it doesn’t take foot traffic – so forget using it as a lawn substitute!
Crassula multicava – For that dry shade spot and more
This perennial succulent is in the Stonecrop family (Crassulaceae); same family as Sedum. It’s an evergreen ground cover with green leaves, and flower color is pink and white. Flowering time is winter, and the flower sprays start out with flowers that are pink in bud, which soon open to sweet little white stars. As you can see from the photo below, the flower sprays are very showy and growing on red stems above the foliage.
crassula multicava groundcover beneath an oak tree
Crassula multicava can overstep its bounds, so plant it where it has room to grow, trail and spread. If you find that you want to add this plant to your garden, just be aware that some people find this plant to be a nuisance, while other people completely love this plant. Personally, I wouldn’t worry too much, because this plant is shallow rooted, and easy to pull out. But, with that said, always think “right plant, right place” before planting so you’re clear on creating a win-win for you, and the plant.
Crassula multicava is well adapted to either full sun or shade and is very drought tolerant. If you live on the coast, this plant has your back, thriving in seaside conditions like wind and salty air. Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F.
Also, making more and propagating this plant is easy! You can either let nature take its course – as new plants will be produced on the tip of the flower spikes. How it works is that when the stalks get heavy, they fall to the soil, where a baby plant, possibly already with roots, is ready to start a new life! You can also do stem cuttings and share with friends.
Well, I hope you enjoyed learning more about this unique succulent. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find in the nurseries…I don’t get why. Here are other types of excellent Crassulas
Cheers. 🙂
Happy Gardening!
