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Growing Crassula
Rupestris
or
Rosary Plants
 This
unique little
succulent plant grows close
to the ground and is great for
hanging baskets.
Rosary Plants grow into mounds 6 to 10 inches
high. The
leaves are just barely 1/4” long and arranged neatly along the stem to
give it a square look. The base of the plant's stems take on a
stiffer
feel and woody look with age.
Crassula rupestris can take part shade to full sun. Extra sun
seems to give a red tinge to the edges of their leaves. These
trailing plants get pale pink
flower clusters in late summer and winter.
These, like my other
crassulas, take monthly
watering in my
hot, dry southern California garden. If you are growing your
Rosary
Plants in direct
sun, they may appreciate a bit more water, especially during the summer.
Crassula rupestris is also called Baby Necklace or Tom
Thumb. They are member os the large and diverse
Crassulaceae family. The tiny leaves on this succulent plant are
arranged neatly along the stem giving it the appearance of beads on a
string or a stack of buttons. Although much smaller, crassula
rupestris looks similar to Chinese Pagoda (crassula perforata).
They grow close to the ground and slowly form mounds from 6 to 10
inches high. In hanging baskets they drip over the sides like a
vine with the tips pointing up.
Flowering Crassula Rupestris
 Crassula rupestris gets pale pink clusters of
tiny flowers with 5 petals from early spring through summer.
The
attractive blossoms form on the ends of the stems and seem large in
proportion to the tiny plant.
Like most plants in the crassulaceae family, crassula rupestris grows
best in warm winter areas (USDA Zones 9b - 11). They can take full,
open shade to full sun but seem to do best in partial shade.
Extra sun changes the leaves to a yellowish lime color with a red tinge
to the edges.
Rosary Vine is a drought tolerant plant suited to dry landscapes.
They take monthly watering in my hot southern California garden.
If you are growing them in direct sun, they may appreciate a bit more
water during the heat of summer.
All succulent plants are sensitive to cold weather. Outdoors
these plants will need overhead protection from frost and should be
brought indoors or covered if temperatures drop below freezing.
Rosary Plants in Containers
Rosary Plants are perfect for a windowsill or the patio table where you
can admire their unique charm. They are great to mix and match
with other succulents or cacti with similar growing requirements.
Use them to fill in the bare spots in your containers or rock
gardens. Try trailing Baby Necklace with Aloe Vera or an upright
crassula like Jade Plant (crassula ovata).
Repotting and Propagating Rosary Plants
Older Rosary Plants can start to look leggy and bare at the bottom of
their stems. This is the perfect time to trim them and create
more plants. Propagation of crassula rupestris is easiest by
rooting their stem cuttings. Bury the woody part of the branch in
the soil and keep them slightly moist for the first few weeks.
My cuttings seem to need a few years to get growing before they begin
flowering. Seeds from crassula rupestris are very tiny and are
carried by the wind like powder.
Thanks to their slow growing habit and small size Rosary Plants work
well in dish gardens or succulent plant wreaths.
It is easy to become enchanted by Baby Necklace no matter where you
grow them or by what name you call them.
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