Crassula perforata

Crassula perforata

Family: Crassulaceae
Common Name: string of buttons
Synonyms: Crassula conjuncta
Origin: Crassula perforata originates from quartz fields within the Southern and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is distributed from Natal to central KwaZulu-Natal, and common in the Fish Valley of the Eastern Cape. Within its natural habitat, C. perforata often grows through and over other bushes.
Description: String of buttons is a small, low-growing succulent with a compact form, reaching 1-2 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide in cultivation. Fleshy and grey brown in juvenile plants, the stems will become woody and prostrate over time. The tightly stacked triangular leaves grow in opposite pairs from a rosette, blue to green in color, and resembling a pagoda. When exposed to full sun, the edges of leaves will develop a red or pink fringe, creating a distinctive outline. Lastly, a cyme inflorescence will bloom in spring, bearing small, star-shaped, white to pale yellow flowers.

Interesting Features:
- The common name “string of buttons” is attributed to the species’ unusual stacked appearance.
- C. perforata is often confused with C. conjuncta, but possesses slight variation in leaf appearance. While they are primarily considered the same species, the leaves of C. conjuncta are more glaucous in color than C. perforata, and the red fringe is more distinctive. However, the accepted name for both species is C. perforata.
Uses: The ethnobotanical uses of C. perforata are unknown. Yet, the string of buttons is very popular in cultivation, and has been valued in terrariums, rock gardens, hanging gardens, and as ground cover.
- Additionally, the flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds when blooming, and therefore can be used in pollinator gardens.

Cultivation and Care:

Watering: Low
- Water sparingly during spring and summer, taking care to avoid overwatering, and reduce irrigation in winter.
- When watering, carefully soak the succulent, drain, and allow the soil to completely dry before watering again.
Soil: Substrate must be well-draining – provide a rich cactus or succulent soil supplemented with perlite or sand. At the same time, maintain a pH of 6.0 for the best growth, although 6.1 to 7.8 is also tolerated.
Lighting: Ensure that C. perforata receives at least 4-6 hours of sunlight with partial shade. Ample sun exposure is required to encourage leaf coloration and flowering, but plants should be protected from strong afternoon light to prevent sunburn, and may not be able to survive full sun.
Propagation: C. perforata can be propagated through leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, offsets, and by splitting the rootball. If specimens become too large, C. perforata can be divided by separating the roots, to create two distinctive plants.
Cold Tolerance: 20°F, USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11.
Special Accommodations: Do not expose to humidity or standing water to prevent rot. In addition, the string of buttons succulent is not cold hardy and should be protected from all frost.
- Plants will become dormant during the summer months, even while flowering, and it may be necessary to remove the dead stems.
- Occasional pruning may also be needed if plants become overly leggy or sprawling.

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