Red Campfire  (Crassula capitella 'Campfire')

Description

Red Campfire succulent It’s easy to distinguish a Red Campfire Crassula (Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’) once you see it. The slender, narrow, and spiraling leaves are densely packed together on low stems, progressing from a pale green to a stunning mix of orange and red in direct sunlight. It can also be seen on the market as a Campfire Crassula or Red Flames – names referencing this fiery characteristic. Native to parts of the African continent such as South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia, this species is at home in hot, arid climates that account for its drought tolerance.

An excellent choice for anyone that wants colour but not colour derived from flowers. The colour on the leaf is enough work on its own. It can sit on a sunny windowsill, hang off a balcony, be housed in a rockery succulent bowl, or mingled with other succulents to contrast against green leaves, using its low spreading form and contrasting red tipped leaves. Also for people that want to keep a succulent and tend to forget the scheduled watering regime because they store water within their leaves.

Arrives barerooted or potted in a succulent blend ready to pop straight onto a bright windowsill or shelf - you don’t need to do a thing! Mainly grown for it’s foliage colours and habit to be low to the ground and good to spill out from a display, collection or tuck on your office desk.

Key features

• Pointed leaves with a 'propeller' shape, the colours will intensify to red/orange in bright conditions. 
• Prostrate/spreading nature, ideal for succulents bowls, rockery planting, and mixed container designs
• As succulent plants are able to store water, this does not mind being left alone for a while between watering.
• Minimal daily care once it’s placed in a sunny position and watered
• Will occasionally sprout tiny white flowers in summertime, but this differs between individual plants. 
• Self-propagating easily through stem or leaf cuttings so you can always grow more down the line. 
• Provides fantastic foliar colour and contrast when planted with greener succulents.

Care at a glance

Product specifications

What's in the box

• 1 × Live Crassula capitella 'Campfire' (Red Campfire) plant
• 1 × Nursery pot (Bare-rooted / Pot: Optional)
• Well-draining potting mix
• Basic care guide

Important notes

• Because this is a natural, living product, leaf color and ratio of green to red is different from plant to plant based on the light it was grown in. 
• Slight leaf drop or dulling of color can occur due to being handled, and traveling in packaging. Leaves should generally rebound in a bright location over a few weeks.
• Do not move this plant from being packed up into full sun directly; give it a few days to acclimatise in its bright spot first. 
• Most problems of this plant are due to water logged soil. Before watering make sure the soil has fully dried out.
• Your leaves normally fade back to green in low light and kick into overdrive in bright sunshine. This is normal and shouldn’t be a problem! 
• As with all plants within the Crassula group this plant is mildly poisonous when ingested so keep out of reach of small people and animals.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Why is my Red Campfire turning green instead of red?

A: leaf colour is light dependent for this plant, in lower light they will turn greener, in higher light they go back to the normal red and orange, give it more light throughout the day and the colour should come back in a few weeks. 

Q: How often should I water the Red campfire? 

A: Water when soil has dried completely out of touch, indoors about every 10 to 14 days when it is warmer and every 3-4 weeks when it is cold.

Q: Can I grow a red campfire indoors?

A: Yes, they just need a few hours of bright light each day, with some direct morning sun mixed in. Not enough light and the colour will start to fade and growth slow.

Q: Does a red campfire need direct sun to stay red?

A: While some sun exposure will definitely enhance its red/orange tones, prolonged hot summer afternoons can potentially burn the leaves of this succulent.

Q: How fast does a red campfire grow?

A: This is a slow growing succulent and it tends to grow as a flat, clump form rather than grow tall. It should see its fastest growth in spring and summer with ideal conditions.

Q: Is Red Campfire pet friendly?

A: We describe this plant as slightly toxic and mildly irritating to pets if consumed. It's not an ideal plant for homes with pet "snackers".