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Wedding dress on top, succulent underneath 🤍
Commercial name: Crassula schmidtii 'Alba' • Family: Crassulaceae • Pot diameter: 12 cm • Height: 15 cm
The white-flowered form of Crassula exilis subsp. schmidtii combines slender, fleshy leaves with dark speckling, a soft texture and reddish accents that appear under strong light. Its many stems form a dense, textured cushion, while the tiny white to cream flowers gather in bright flower heads above the foliage. It is an unusual, finely detailed succulent that wins attention through detail rather than volume.
At around 15 cm tall, it looks best on a surface that lets you observe its fine foliage and white flowers up close. Indoors, it needs a position very close to a bright window, with strong natural light and, ideally, a little gentle morning or afternoon sun. Outdoors, choose a bright, airy spot protected from the hot midday sun of the Greek summer, prolonged rain and frost.
Correct botanical name: The accepted name is Crassula exilis subsp. schmidtii. Crassula schmidtii Regel is an older synonym, not a cultivar name, so schmidtii is not written in quotation marks.
What applies to “alba”: The name Crassula schmidtii f. alba Boom was published in 1951 for the white-flowered form. Today, Kew treats it as a synonym of Crassula exilis subsp. schmidtii, not as a separate accepted taxonomic unit or official cultivar. In trade it may appear as Crassula schmidtii 'Alba' or “White”.
Place of origin: Crassula exilis subsp. schmidtii is native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa and grows as a small succulent subshrub.
What the name means: Crassula comes from the Latin crassus, meaning “thick”, referring to the fleshy leaves. Exilis means “slender” or “small”, schmidtii honours a person with the surname Schmidt, and alba means “white”.
| 🔎 Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🌿 Scientific name | Crassula exilis subsp. schmidtii • Synonyms: Crassula schmidtii, Crassula schmidtii f. alba |
| 🪴 Pot/Size | Pot diameter: 12 cm • Height: 15 cm |
| ☀️ Light | Very bright position, preferably with gentle morning or afternoon sun. Protect from hot midday sun in summer, especially behind glass or in a small pot. |
| 💧 Watering | Low: deep watering followed by full drying before the next watering. Never leave water in the saucer or cover pot. |
| 🌱 Substrate | Exceptionally free-draining succulent mix, rich in porous inorganic materials. Avoid heavy, compact mixes that hold water around the roots. |
| 🌡️ Temperature | Prefers mild to warm conditions and good air circulation. Protect from frost, prolonged winter cold and rains that keep the substrate constantly wet. |
| 🤍 Flowering | Small white to cream flowers in dense, almost flat flower heads. Appearance and flowering time are influenced by light, temperature and the growing cycle. |
| 🔎 Foliage | Narrow, fleshy leaves with dark speckling, fine hairs along the margins and a reddish underside or edges that become more noticeable in strong light. |
| 📏 Growth | Low, highly branched and cushion-like. The stems spread gradually and can root where they touch suitable substrate. |
| 🐾 Safety | There is no reliable specific pet-safe classification for this subspecies. It is not intended for consumption and chewing by children or pets should be avoided. |
Not in the current taxonomic sense. The name Crassula schmidtii f. alba was published in 1951, but Kew now treats it as a synonym of the accepted Crassula exilis subsp. schmidtii. 'Alba' is used commercially to indicate the white-flowered form, not as a confirmed official cultivar.
Yes, as long as it is placed very close to a bright window and receives strong natural light. On a dark shelf away from a window, the stems stretch, become sparse and lose their compact form.
Flowering is influenced by plant maturity, light intensity and the seasonal cycle of temperature and watering. Keep it in a very bright position, avoid excessive fertiliser and do not keep the soil constantly wet. Even with correct care, not all plants flower at the same time.
It is easily propagated from small stem cuttings or by dividing dense sections. Let the cut dry for a short time, place the cutting in a dry, porous mix and begin very light watering once it starts to root.
© Original plant description by Greenleaf Garden Center. All rights reserved. | This text is original material. Copying is prohibited (Law 2121/1993).
🔎 Note: Due to the natural diversity of plants, the plant you receive may differ slightly from the one shown in the photo. Shape, size or colour may vary depending on the season, growing conditions and the natural character of each plant.
