Airplane Plant, Buddha’s Temple, Propeller Plant, Red Crassula, Scarlet Paintbrush

Crassula perfoliata var. falcata

KRASS-oo-la  per-fol-lee-AY-tuh  fal-KAY-tuh

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT

Synonyms of Crassula perfoliata (1) (Updated on 12-14-23 from Plants of the World Online): Rochea perfoliata (L.) DC.
Synonyms of Crassula perfoliata var. falcata (10) (Updated on 12-14-23 from POWO): Crassula decussata DC., Crassula falcata Dum.Cours., Crassula falcata J.C.Wendl., Crassula falx Linding., Crassula perfoliata var. minor (Haw.) G.D.Rowley, Crassula retroflexa Meerb., Crassula swellingrebliana DC., Larochea falcata (J.C.Wendl.) Pers., Larochea falcata var. minor Haw. (1821), Rochea falcata (J.C.Wendl.) DC.

Crassula perfoliata var. falcata (J.C.Wendl.) Toelken is the accepted infraspecific name for the plant on this page. It was named and described as such by Hellmut R. Toelken in the Journal of South African Botany in 1975. It was first named and described as Crassula falcata by Johann Christoph Wendland in Botanische Beobachtungen in 1798.

Crassula perfoliata L. is the accepted scientific name for this species of Crassula. Both the genus and species were named and described as such by Carl von Linnaeus in the first volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

Accepted Infraspecific Names of Crassula perfoliata (4) (Updated on 12-14-23 from POWO): Crassula perfoliata var. coccinea (Sweet) G.D.Rowley, Crassula perfoliata var. falcata (J.C.Wendl.) Toelken, Crassula perfoliata var. heterotricha (Schinz) Toelken, *Crassula perfoliata var. perfoliata (autonym). *When an infraspecific taxon is named, an autonym (“type-specimen”) is automatically generated whose description is closest to the (original) species. All have their own list of synonyms…

As of 12-14-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online by Kew lists 211 species in the Crassula genus. It is a member of the plant family Crassulaceae with 36 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

THERE ARE A FEW LINKS AND GROWING RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING.

I brought this Crassula perfoliata var. falcata home from Wagler’s Greenhouse on March 29, 2021. I had wanted one of these plants for a long time, so I was very happy to see a few at the greenhouse. The plant measured 4″ tall, after standing it up, and 6″ wide from leaf tip to tip. It will need repotting in a proper soil mix plus I have to check the roots. I don’t want its roots trying to grow through a plug wrapper…

This species hails from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa (Eastern Cape Province) where it grows in quartzitic sandstone outcrops on north, east, and west-facing cliffs along dry river valleys.

The Crassula perfoliata var. falcata is a neat plant with awesome thick, glaucous, gray-green, sickle-shaped leaves arranged in overlapping pairs. The glaucous appearance comes from the soft “bloom” on the leaves giving it a grayish glow… Hard to explain, but I am sure you know what I mean. The leaf margins have a feeling similar to a closed zipper due to very tiny teeth. PlantZAfrica (see link below) says the leaves can sometimes have reddish markings… Plants are normally unbranched but offset at the base.

The species name, perfoliata, comes from where the bases of the opposite leaves surround the stem. With several wildflower species I have photographed and written about with the same species name, the opposite leaves seem to become one at the stem, and the stem looks like it passes through the leaves. It is very neat indeed!

I suppose for most people, and probably for me when I see them, are the flower clusters of this species. The flower clusters, around 6″ in diameter, produce a multitude of bright orange to scarlet red flowers that last about a month. Llifle (Encyclopedia of Living Forms) says the flowers have the scent of sweet cinnamon… I am not sure how old the plant has to be before it produces flowers…

Information suggests the Crassula perfoliata var. falcata is a SSSSLLLLOOOOWWWW grower but easy to care for as long as a few basic rules are followed. They prefer bright light and regular watering during the growing period in fast-draining soil. As with any succulent, extended periods of wet soil will cause their roots to rot. Basically, they sound like they have similar requirements as most succulents, especially others in the Crassula genus (and the plant family Crassulaceae).

I just acquired this plant, so I don’t have any experience to share. In the past, I have grown several Crassula species but when I moved back to the family farm in west-central Missouri in 2013 I didn’t have adequate light. Now I have a plant shelf in a south-facing window that will provide better light. So, I will give the Crassula perfoliata var. falcata, the Propeller Plant, my best shot… I WILL add more photos and information as time goes by.

<<<<2021>>>>

The Crassula perfoliata var. falcata did very well over the summer and grew to 5″ tall. The end of the longer lower leaf on the bottom turned brown so I snipped the brown part off. That’s why it is 1/8″ narrower than when I brought it home on March 29. But, it grew an inch taller in about five months.

Unfortunately, this plant started going downhill over the 2021-2022 winter and rotted at the base then gave it up… I haven’t found a replacement locally.

USEFUL INFORMATION:
Family: Crassulaceae
Origin: Cape of Good Hope in South Africa
Zones: USDA Zones 9b-11 (25 to 40° F/-3.8 to 4.5°C)
Size: Hmmm… 12-18” or taller.
Light: Full sun to light shade…
Soil: Fast-draining. Good quality potting soil amended with pumice (50/50) or additional perlite and chicken grit (2-1-1).
Water: Regular watering during the summer and barely during the winter, only if leaves start to shrivel.

You can read my Cactus Talk & Update and Cactus & Succulent Tips to get my opinion about growing cactus and succulents.

When you bring your new plants home from the store, you need to check their roots and the soil to see if they are wet. If so, you may want to re-pot it right away. It is advisable to re-pot them in a better potting soil more suitable for cactus and succulents.

I hope you enjoyed this page and maybe found it useful. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions I would like to hear from you. Please click on “like” if you visited this page. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. 🙂 You can check out the links below for further reading. The links take you directly to the genus, species, and/or cultivar of this plant. If you notice I made an error, please let me know. Of course, you can always send me an email at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com.

 FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES/ var. falcata)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES/var. falcata)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES/var. falcata)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES/var. falcata)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL CRASSULACEAE NETWORK
LLIFLE (ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LIVING FORMS)
DAVE’S GARDEN
SAN LUIS OBISPO BOTANICAL GARDEN
INLAND VALLEY GARDEN PLANNER
THE CENTRAL OHIO CACTUS AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
PLANT CARE TODAY
PLANTZAFRICA
GARDENING KNOW HOW

NOTE: The figures may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates (and if they update their sources or even read what they say). Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates at least once a year and when I write new pages and add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂