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Crassula streyi
Prefers partial shade, but can also tolerate a sunny location.
Wait a few days for the substrate to dry out before watering. In winter, water only minimally.
Requires temperatures above 0 °C. The plant is not frost-resistant.
When grown in the shade, the burgundy coloration on the underside of the leaves is most pronounced.
Crassula streyi, also known as Pondo Cliff Crassula, is a species native to South Africa. It grows in shallow soil on shaded rocky ledges, often in the shade of shrubs on cliffs, at elevations of approximately 50 to 250 meters above sea level. The specific epithet “streyi” honors Rudolf Georg Strey (1907–1988), a German farmer and botanist who first collected this species. It is related to Crassula multicava.
The leaves are large, dark green, with lighter spots mainly along the veins and a deep wine-red coloration on the underside. The underside coloration is most intense when the plant is grown in shade. The plant can reach a height of up to about 30 cm and appears more robust than many other Crassula species.
The flowers are star-shaped and greenish white to yellow-green in color. They are borne on flowering stems above the leaves.
Crassula streyi is a somewhat unusual succulent compared to commonly grown Crassula species. It requires a well-draining substrate and a bright to semi-shaded position, with moderate watering and soil that must not remain waterlogged. It does not tolerate frost and is best grown in containers as a houseplant on a windowsill, with the option of placing it outdoors in summer and overwintering indoors.