Crassula tecta

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Crassula tecta is a compact winter grower from South Africa’s Little Karoo, found on gentle gravelly slopes from Montagu to Oudtshoorn and east toward Willowmore. It forms tight cu shions of leaves so densely coated in white wax they appear frosted, an adaptation that serves as both camouflage and sunscreen against the dry summer sun. This predilection for concealment makes its presence among white quartz rock unsurprising, although the occasional maroon stress coloring blends just as well with the contrasting orange sand. Known in European collections since at least the 18th century, its charm and fuss-free nature have kept it well represented in cultivation, further evidenced by the number of hybrids that count this species among their parents Show more