{"product_id":"crassula-columella","title":"Crassula columella","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrassula columella\u003c\/strong\u003e is a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/small-plants\"\u003eminiature\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cacti-and-succulents\"\u003estacking succulent\u003c\/a\u003e from South Africa, sometimes called the pillar plant. Its small, broad leaves press tightly around each stem to build neat four-angled columns up to about 2cm across, and they have a soft, velvety surface. The foliage is yellowish green and often blushes red or golden in bright light. Stems stay short, reaching around 15cm at most, and branch from the base to form a compact clump over time. Mature plants can produce small rounded clusters of cream to pale yellow flowers in autumn. It is easily confused with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/crassula-barklyi-rattlesnake-tail\"\u003eCrassula barklyi\u003c\/a\u003e, the rattlesnake tail, which has smooth leaves edged with a white fringe of fine hairs and branches far more freely.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigins\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a true species, described by Marloth and Schönland in 1929 and accepted by Kew. In the wild it is found only in a small area of northern Namaqualand in South Africa's Northern Cape, where it tucks into crevices in quartzite outcrops on the upper slopes of low hills. That part of the country gets its rain in winter, so the plant does most of its growing in the cooler months of autumn and spring and rests through the heat of summer. It is listed as Rare on South Africa's national Red List, with only five known wild subpopulations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGive it the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bright-light-houseplants\"\u003ebrightest windowsill\u003c\/a\u003e you have. A few hours of direct sun keeps the columns tight and brings out the warm colouring, while poor light lets the stems stretch and turn pale. Use a gritty, fast draining cactus compost and water only once it has dried out completely, then soak it and let the excess drain away. Water most during its autumn and spring growth, and keep it much drier in summer while it rests and through the darkest weeks of winter, as wet compost is the usual cause of rot. Ordinary room humidity suits it perfectly. It copes with a cool, bright room in winter but must stay frost free, ideally above 5C. It is not individually listed by the ASPCA, but its relative the jade plant is listed as toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it out of reach of pets.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GrowTropicals","offers":[{"title":"8.5cm","offer_id":58407604322687,"sku":"CRASSCOLU85","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/crassulacolum.jpg?v=1789134609","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/crassula-columella","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}