Stacked Crassulas: See 20+ Square Succulents, Plus Care, Selection, Design, Propagation, Planting

My love affair with stacked crassulas began 30 years ago. On a garden tour, I saw a succulent with leaves stacked like little pancakes along trailing stems. I took photos and finally found the plant (Crassula perforata) several years later. Fast forward: Today stacked crassulas are easy to come by, and desirable varieties number in the dozens.
What's a stacked crassula? It's not an official botanical term, but it describes those species and cultivars with stems that go through the middle of the leaves, like beads on a necklace.
I'm eager to show you collectible, easy-care and endearing varieties, each with its own form, color and flowers. You'll learn their names, how to care for them, see them showcased in pots, and find out how to take cuttings. Yes, it's possible to propagate succulents with leaves so tight they hide the stems! In fact it's remarkably easy.
I've painstakingly researched plant names, which tend to be confusing or inaccurate online. I also give the parentage of crosses and cultivars, and occasionally translate polysyllabic Latin names.
Here, where I live in the foothills northeast of San Diego (Zone 9b), I’ve grown many of these. Like shrub crassulas (jade plants), stacked species are frost-tender, but good news: they thrive in pots and make good windowsill plants.
LEARN MORE: Go to my Crassula page for plant IDs and care info: t.ly/fBE8
GO TO the Stacked Crassula article on my site: debraleebaldwin.com/succulent...
Have a question about succulents not answered here? Use the Search bar at: debraleebaldwin.com/
SHOP ONLINE FOR STACKED CRASSULAS:
Mountain Crest Gardens: mountaincrestgardens.com/cras...
RELATED VIDEOS and LINKS
-- Watch my DIY planting demo: Stacked Crassulas in Stacked Pots • Plant Stacked Crassula...
-- See how nursery manager Aaron Ryan propagates stacked crassulas: • How to Propagate Stack...
-- Find out how and why crassulas turn red: debraleebaldwin.com/succulent...
Get a STRAWBERRY POT for your stacked crassulas: amzn.to/44sVGhl
BOOKS BY DEBRA LEE BALDWIN
- Designing with Succulents (mainly about in-ground gardening), amzn.to/2M7bBig
- Succulents Simplified (good overview for beginners), amzn.to/2Ewil2I
- Succulent Container Gardens, amzn.to/2VZvGeE
CONNECT WITH DEBRA
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ABOUT DEBRA
Award-winning garden photojournalist and bestselling author Debra Lee Baldwin shares her expertise about “plants that drink responsibly” in print, photos, videos and her “Celebrating the Joy of Succulents” newsletter. Debra is based in Southern California, home to more succulent specialty nurseries and growers than anywhere else in the world.
#succulent #succulentgarden #garden #gardeningtips #gardening #gardendesign #gardenideas #succulents_only #succulentsplants #plants #rareplants #pottedgarden #crassula #stackedcrassulas
This video is • Stacked Crassulas: See...
VIDEO SECTIONS
1:24 About Stacked Crassulas
3:51 Crassula rubricaulis
4:20 Perforata types
6:47 Rupestris types
11:34 Pagoda Plants
12:51 Calico Kitten types
14:50 Watch Chain types
15:18 Rarities
19:16 Propagation & Planting

[@terrizimmerman5297]

I’m loving seeing how the succulents have been paired with companion plants and pots! I’ll be viewing this video over and over! Thank you Debra.

[@QueenofSucculents]

This makes me so happy! Thank you Terri for a lovely comment 🥰

[@QueenofSucculents]

Do you find yourself wanting one or more of these varieties desperately? Few succulents---few plants for that matter---are so visually charming. Thumb-sized stacked crassulas are collectible, portable, and make wonderful patio or windowsill plants. Plus they're low-maintenance and surprisingly easy to propagate!

[@cynthiawert2494]

Watching this has brought back memories of my mom in her rose garden which as bordered by flowering succulents! I grew up in Altadena, CA. where there were lots of warm/hot summers. Not surprising that I now live in a small town in inland No. San Diego County. Love it.

[@QueenofSucculents]

How wonderful that the video brought back childhood memories! Your mom must have been a wonderful gardener.

[@zlatamontgomery1593]

Moonglow - very - unusual Zlata Florida

[@diablorojas6713]

Beautiful video I learnt so much from it I love reputris it’s one of my favourites

[@sis9622]

Very pretty plants

[@jeannemeadow7113]

You are certainly the queen of all things succulents! Thank you for all the new plants I want to buy!! Poor Barry!

[@QueenofSucculents]

LOL. Did you see your hand in the video holding the little wheelbarrow? 😘

[@pattivermeersch7348]

Fabulous info and video…thoroughly enjoyed…thanks bunches

[@QueenofSucculents]

Hi Patti -- You're so welcome! Thanks for the lovely accolade!

[@eljardindesofi6288]

Me encanta

[@Lannisam80126]

Great information, thank you!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Be sure to go to the Crassula page on my site for more info and a gallery of varieties all ID'd. t.ly/fBE8

[@dai12nao]

Beautiful all of them love this video

[@jdt_skincareaddict]

Thank youuu Soo much Debra! I really appreciate the effort you put in creating and sharing this video with us.❤❤God bless and take care!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thank you, John! You too!

[@janecurtis5726]

Excellent overview of these charming plants. I love how you have used them in pots alone or in a mixed planting. I have limited space so I think a few pots if the smaller types would work well for me.

[@QueenofSucculents]

That's how I grow most of mine. They're very obliging little succulents, with such personality!

[@fishinthesea3454]

Hi Debs, mrs Mike here, still catching up! I've just learned that where I garden in Namibia is the same as your zone 9. Thank you for this video.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Very cool we can grow the same succulents! Of course many of those we have here in nurseries come from South Africa...😉

[@fishinthesea3454]

@@QueenofSucculents 🥰 I know hey! 🥰

[@raquelmano3594]

Thank you Debra, for this informative, interesting and so amusing videos!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thank YOU, Raquel, for "getting" my sense of humor. 🤗

[@shellyjene2066]

I loved this video!!!!

[@QueenofSucculents]

I loved your comment!!!!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Have a question on ANYTHING to do with succulents? Go to debraleebaldwin.com and browse the menu or use the Search bar. Btw, my site is not monetized---no annoying pop-up ads. It's my gift to my followers and the culmination of my career as a horticulturist/photojournalist specializing in succulents. You'll find 100+ pages of tips and ideas; thousands of photos and must-know facts for specific varieties; curated design ideas for gardens, landscapes and containers; interviews with experts; seasonal info; and much more. Use the site as a research tool that also is entertaining---the same goal as my KZbin channel. Q's welcome!

[@alexandralacerda492]

They look like origami❤️

[@QueenofSucculents]

Oh I am SO borrowing that metaphor. Thank you!!

[@Gfunk8008]

I always love watching your videos, they’re so informative and always have amazing plants in them :) I absolutely love stacking crassula but sadly I always end up killing they with lack of water. I think got to used to drought tolerant euphoria, haworthia and cacti for my watering schedule 🙃

[@QueenofSucculents]

Yes, easy to do. I can't seem to keep "regular" plants (those with woody, non-succulent stems) going.

[@user-tb8px6hu1q]

Is it easy to grow crassula plants from seed?

[@QueenofSucculents]

Apologies, I have no idea. They’re just so easy to start from cuttings. But I realize if you live where crassulas can’t be imported or want to create hybrids, seeds are your only option. Hopefully a savvy viewer will weigh in.