About
Crassula helmsii is classified as an invasive, non-native species under Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act, making its sale prohibited. Refer to cultivation notes for additional information. This aquatic plant features elongated, trailing stems adorned with compact, fleshy leaves and produces small, pale flowers. It thrives in moist mud near water bodies or can float on the surface, creating dense mats that can extend up to 3 meters deep.
About the genus
Crassula encompasses a variety of growth forms, including succulent annuals, perennials, and both evergreen shrubs and sub-shrubs. These plants feature thick, fleshy leaves and produce small flowers that are either star-shaped or funnel-shaped, arranged in terminal clusters.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Poorly-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Aquatic
- Habit
- Matforming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
Care notes
- Cultivation
- This plant is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act as an invasive non-native species. Across the EU, UK and NI it is an offence to plant or cause to grow in the wild plants listed on Schedule 9 of this order. These plants should not be planted or caused to grow in the wild and in addition are banned from sale. Gardeners possessing them should undertake measures to control them. See RHS advice on invasive non-native species for further information
- Propagation
- Spreads through broken stem fragments; seeds are produced but are not thought to be viable. See cultivation notes