Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Crassula streyi
Pondo Cliff Crassula
Crassula streyi is a low succulent from the shaded forest cliffs of Pondoland, and it breaks the usual succulent rule: it wants shade rather than sun. The rounded fleshy leaves are glossy dark green above and a deep maroon-purple beneath, so a planted mass shifts colour as the light moves across it.
Plants stay under half a metre and spread slowly into a dense mat, which makes them useful in shaded planters and courtyard beds where a conventional groundcover would be too coarse.
Specifications
- Height0.2 to 0.4 metres
- Width0.3 to 0.5 metres, spreading slowly
- Native toSouth Africa, on the forested coastal cliffs of Pondoland in KwaZulu-Natal
- FoliageRounded, fleshy, glossy dark green leaves with deep maroon-purple undersides; evergreen
- Growth rateSlow
Conditions
- SoilRequires sharply drained gritty or sandy soils with some organic matter
- LightPartial shade to bright indirect light; scorches in full sun
- WaterLow to moderate; allow the medium to dry between waterings
- ClimateThrives in frost-free subtropical and interior conditions
Additional Features
- UsesShaded planters, courtyard groundlayers, interior containers and rockery pockets out of direct sun
- SpacingPlant 0.25 to 0.3 metres apart for a closed mat
- Low MaintenanceNeeds very little beyond removing damaged leaves and occasional division
- Pest ResistanceGenerally sound; mealybug appears only in still, humid air
- Drought ToleranceStores water in the leaves and tolerates missed irrigation cycles
- FormLow, dense, spreading mat with a strong two-tone leaf effect
The Pondo Cliff Crassula is the succulent to reach for when the brief calls for shade rather than sun.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026