Plant of the Month April 2024: Campfire Crassula (Crassula capitella)

The wait is finally over. After a little bit of a hiatus, we’re back with another Plant of the Month! This April we’re covering the gorgeous Crassula capitella, more commonly called Campfire Crassula. The red tipped subspecies is sometimes referred to as Red Flames or Red Pagoda. Campfire Crassula are native to Africa and found predominately in South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. 

Photos of matured Campfire Crassula at the previous Fern & Fossil location in Newark, NJ

These plants are incredibly diverse, ranging in both color and structure amongst subspecies. Although they each initially grow light green in color, some cultivars develop a bright golden, orange, or rich red hue, particularly near the tips of the leaves. Their leaves are narrow and propeller-like, stacked one above the other with gradually smaller buds at the top. Under the right conditions, Campfire Crassula will bloom small, white star shaped flowers along its thick stem during summer time.

Photos of matured Campfire Crassula at the previous Fern & Fossil location in Newark, NJ

Campfire Crassula generally only grows about 6 inches tall, but will grow longer in low light conditions due to etiolation. So although these succulents tolerate less light, we recommend keeping them near a sunny window at home. We also recommend not keeping your succulent outside, as it may suffer from foliage edema in temperatures under 30°F. 

Photos of matured Campfire Crassula at the previous Fern & Fossil location in Newark, NJ

Campfire Crassula (Crassula capitella) needs the following care:

Light ☀️ Light shade.

Water 💧Only when soil is completely dry. Do not overwater.

Grow 🌱 This is not a cold hardy plant. For best results avoid temperatures below 40 F.