Sinocrassula yunnanensis
| Light | Bright light with some direct sun; a little shade from the fiercest afternoon sun deepens the dark colour |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate in active growth, allowing the mix to dry out fully between waterings; keep dry in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining, gritty mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Frost-tender; keep above freezing, roughly USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Leaf and stem cuttings, offsets, and seed |
| Toxicity | Generally considered non-toxic, but not a food plant; best kept away from curious pets |
Sinocrassula yunnanensis is a small, clump-forming succulent in the family Crassulaceae, native to the mountains of Yunnan in southwestern China. It forms tight clusters of little rosettes of narrow, incurved leaves that are so deeply pigmented they appear near-black, and are clothed in a fine, velvety fuzz — a combination that makes it a striking and much-sought collector plant, sometimes sold under the name Chinese jade.
Description
Sinocrassula yunnanensis builds up into dense mounds of small rosettes, each only a few centimetres across. The leaves are slender, slightly incurved and packed closely together, giving each rosette a rounded, almost egg-like outline. Their surface carries a coat of very short hairs that softens the light and gives the plant its characteristic matte, velvety look.
Colour is the plant's signature feature. In strong light and cooler conditions the foliage darkens to a deep chocolate-brown or near-black; in weaker light it reverts to a duller green. Older rosettes offset freely around the base, so a single plant slowly becomes a cushion of many heads. Like many in the genus, individual rosettes are monocarpic — a rosette that flowers will eventually die back — but the surrounding offsets carry the clump on. Small, urn-shaped flowers are borne on short stems, though the plant is grown far more for its foliage than its bloom.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to Yunnan in southwestern China, where it grows on rocky slopes and among stones at altitude. In habitat it roots into thin, sharply drained mineral ground and endures bright sun, cool nights and a distinct dry season — conditions worth keeping in mind when growing it.
Cultivation
Sinocrassula yunnanensis is not difficult, but like most fuzzy, tightly packed succulents it dislikes sitting wet. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a pot with good drainage, and water thoroughly only once the soil has dried right through. The fine hairs can trap moisture, so avoid leaving water standing in the crowns of the rosettes — water at the base or in the morning so the plant dries quickly.
Give it bright light with some direct sun to bring out the dark colouring and keep the rosettes compact; in dim conditions the plant pales, stretches and loses its charm. It is frost-tender, so protect it from freezing and keep it dry and cool through winter, which suits its natural dry rest. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
The species is easily increased vegetatively. Established clumps can be divided, and the many offsets around the base root readily once separated (see Propagation — offsets). Leaf and stem cuttings also strike well: let cut surfaces callus for a few days, then set them on a barely moist, gritty mix (see Propagation — cuttings). Seed is possible too, sown on a fine mineral surface kept warm and lightly humid (see Propagation — seed).
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or water lodged in the fuzzy crowns; affected rosettes go soft and mushy.
- Etiolation — too little light makes rosettes open up, pale toward green and stretch, losing their dark, compact form.
- Pests — mealybugs can hide among the tightly packed leaves and offsets, and the dense fuzz makes them easy to overlook; watch also for aphids on flower stems. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Sinocrassula — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — offsets · Propagation — cuttings · Repotting