impakatha, isidwe, isikhelekhehlane
Crassula alba is a perennial, rosette-forming succulent with bright green, lance-shaped leaves that may have purple markings. Leaves form a basal rosette and also appear in pairs along the stem. The plant produces large, flat-topped heads of small, tubular flowers, most commonly bright scarlet red, but also white, pink, or yellow. Flower heads can reach up to 15 cm in diameter and appear in late summer to autumn. The plant is adapted to grasslands and rocky slopes, dying back after flowering and resprouting in spring, a survival strategy for fire-prone habitats.
The profusion of small, bright flowers attracts a wide range of pollinating insects, especially honeybees and butterflies. The plant is a larval host for the Common Black Eye and Tailed Black Eye butterflies. Its dense mats provide ground cover and microhabitat for small invertebrates, and help stabilize soil and prevent erosion in grassland habitats.
Large, flat-topped heads of red, pink, white, or yellow tubular flowers; pollinated by insects. Fruits are small capsules with fine seeds dispersed by wind.
Indirectly supports insectivorous birds by attracting pollinators and other insects.
Sow seeds in spring or early summer in well-drained soil; seeds germinate rapidly.
Can be divided by separating clumps; vegetative propagation is easy and best done in early spring.
Used in traditional medicine for treating dysentery, diarrhea, and heartburn; sap applied for burns and wounds.
Not a primary fodder species; not known to be toxic.
Not known to be toxic.
Valuable for grassland restoration, erosion control, and supporting pollinator and invertebrate diversity; helps stabilize soils and increase biodiversity in restoration projects.
