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The dense head of small but very bright
red flowers of Crassula falcata is an outstanding sight.
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It produces spectacular clusters of bright orange-red flowers arranged in dense
cymes, flowers starts to develop in June and are in full bloom in
August,
Flower heads grow 8 to 12cm wide. Attractive and
interesting when not in bloom but a show stopper when the bright red
flowers emerge. |
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The flower smells like sweet cinnamon and usually lasts 6-8
weeks.
Sometimes they bloom twice a year, and the bees really love the flowers
too.
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Photo by
Pat
(California, USA) |
Produces pairs of attractive and interesting sickle shaped
grey-green leaves, but a show stopper when the bright red flowers
emerge. |
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Family: Crassulaceae
(Stonecrops)
Scientific Name: Crassula
falcata
H. Wendl.
Origin: South Africa from the Cape of Good Hope (Eastern Cape
Province)
Synonyms:
- Larochea falcata
- Crassula falx
- Crassula johannis-winkleri
- Rochea falcata
- Crassula perfoliata var. falcata
- Crassula perfoliata var. miniata
- Crassula obliqua
- Crassula perfoliata var. falcata forma
minor.
Common names:
Propeller Plant,
Scarlet Paintbrush, Airplane plant
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Description:
make a lovely clump/low growing
shrub, that usually grows up to 60 cm tall ( but some sources say
1.2 m of height)
Stem: Usually unbranched,
succulent becoming woody in age,
Roots: Fibrous.
Leaves: Interesting
glaucous grey-green arranged in overlapping pairs, leaves are
propeller shaped (sickle shaped), decussate, ascending, becoming
spreading, lanceolate, slightly falcate, smooth, upper face flat,
channelled at the base, margins acute toward the apex, truncate lower
down, lower face convex, tip recurved and acute, mucronate up to 10 cm
long, 2-3 cm wide.
Flowers: Spectacular
clusters of tiny bright orange-red or scarlet-red florets arranged in
dense
cymes, that rise above foliage.
Flower heads grow 8 to 12 cm wide and are scented.
Blooming season: Flowers
starts to develop in June and are in full bloom in August. The flowers
open slowly and last for nearly a month when in full bloom.
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Easy to flower and easy to grow, it is a favourite of
many hobbyists. The flowers open slowly and last for nearly a month when
in full
bloom. Generally needs full sun part of the day to flower.
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Cultivation: Stunning as a
container plant, in decorative pots, in courtyards and rockeries, and
especially ideal for mass plantings and borders, where its dramatic
foliage and spectacular flower heads are shown to their best effect.
Needs well drained soil (standard cactus potting mix), keep moist all
year, but reduce watering during winter month and apply a balanced
liquid fertilizer during the summer months (June, July, August). It
grows well in
light shade to
full sun, protected from frosts. Remove spent flower heads to
maintain vigour and bushy habit.
After growing for several years tend to become untidy, and should be cut
very short or restarted from cuttings.
Pests & Disease: Aphids, mealy bugs, powdery mildew, fungal leaf spot,
stem and root rot if over watered.
Propagation: Leaf or stem
cuttings in spring or summer.
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