Crassula is one of the most fascinating succulent genera in cultivation, loved for the sheer range of forms it offers. Within the genus you find everything from tiny moss-like annuals and dwarf crevice dwellers to neat rosettes, stacked columnar plants, trailing growers and even shrub-sized species such as the well-known jade plant. Southern Africa is the heartland of the genus, with around 149 species recorded there, although Crassula as a genus is far wider-ranging and native on a cosmopolitan scale.

What makes Crassula especially compelling for growers is that it combines beauty with resilience. Many species are adapted to drought through succulent leaves and stems, and the genus is closely associated with CAM photosynthesis, a water-saving strategy in which the stomata open mainly at night rather than in the heat of the day. That is one reason why so many species thrive in water-wise gardens, containers, rockeries and specialist succulent collections.

For collectors, the genus offers endless variety in texture, colour and habit. Some species blush red in stronger light, some stay silver-blue or soft green, some form cushions, some stack into pagoda-like towers, and others disappear into the landscape as miniatures. For gardeners, Crassula is equally valuable because many species are adaptable, compact and rewarding from seed, making them ideal for both South African growers and international hobbyists looking to build a diverse succulent collection.

Crassula arborescens ssp. undulatifolia – Bokkeveld Tree Crassula; Bokkeveld-beestebal

Crassula arborescens ssp. undulatifolia is a striking South African succulent shrub with real collector appeal, admired for its sculptural, many-branched form and the beautifully rippled foliage that gives it such a distinctive personality. This is the kind of plant that instantly brings structure and movement to a collection, with stout grey stems and dense heads of blue-green to glaucous leaves that curve and undulate along the margins, often finished with a fine reddish edge. For growers who love unusual textures and bold yet elegant forms, this is a superb species to raise from seed.

Endemic to South Africa, this subspecies is recorded from the southern Klein Winterhoek Mountains of the Eastern Cape, where it grows in sandstone- and shale-derived soils under rocky, gravelly conditions. It is associated with fynbos and renosterveld elements, and is found on hillsides, slopes, cliffs and sunny exposed sites, sometimes also in valleys. That rugged mountain setting gives the plant its tough, drought-adapted character and makes it especially attractive to South African gardeners and international succulent enthusiasts looking for species with a strong sense of place and habitat authenticity.

In growth, Crassula arborescens ssp. undulatifolia develops into a compact, upright shrub that can eventually become quite substantial, with thick succulent branches and a naturally bonsai-like presence. Its leaves are more elongated and less fleshy than those of the typical subspecies, and instead of lying flat they twist and wave slightly, creating dense rosetted tips along the branches. When in bloom, it carries rounded heads of starry flowers in shades of white to soft pink, held just above the foliage, and flowering takes place from spring into summer, when the plant can become remarkably showy.

For seed buyers, this is an exceptional choice: architectural, collectable, unmistakably South African and rewarding both in containers and in dry gardens where its form can really be appreciated. It suits collectors, hobbyists, succulent growers and gardeners who want something beyond the ordinary jade types, with more texture, more movement and a more refined wild beauty. Check out our online seed store, Buy Now, and explore our Immense Range of rare and desirable species. Seeds and All offers combined South African and International shipping, making it easy to add Crassula arborescens ssp. undulatifolia to your next order wherever you are in the world.