Purple Dragon Fairy Crassula

Purple Dragon Fairy Crassula (Crassula multicava 'Purple Dragon') is a spreading succulent groundcover for the dry, difficult ground where lawn and shrubs both give up. It sits about 30cm high and spreads to 60cm across, with fleshy rounded leaves that flush deep purple in sun and stay green in shade. In late winter it lifts clouds of tiny pink and white stars well above the foliage.

Why you'll love it

• It covers ground fast. From 30cm spacing the plants meet and close into a continuous mat within a single warm season.
• You choose the colour with light. Full sun brings out the purple flush, while shade keeps the leaves broad and green.
• It survives real neglect. Drought, heat, poor soil and coastal salt are all within its range once it is established.
• Flowers when little else does. The pink starry sprays open in late winter and early spring and are worked hard by bees.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 30cm apart, which is about eleven plants to the square metre. That spacing closes over quickly and leaves no bare soil for weeds.

Retaining walls and slopes. The shallow roots knit the surface together on a bank that is too steep to mow, and the stems root where they touch the ground.

Rockeries and pots. It spills neatly over a wall edge or the rim of a container, which suits a dry rockery or a hot balcony better than most flowering groundcovers.

Growing Purple Dragon Fairy Crassula in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. Warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid gardens all suit it, and it takes light frost only. In cold districts grow it in a pot under eaves, where it will be fine through winter.

Soil. Drainage is the only real requirement. Sandy, gravelly and genuinely poor soils are all fine, but on heavy wet clay it rots, so build the bed up into a low mound first.

Water and feed. Water weekly for the first two months to settle the roots, then leave it to the weather in most gardens. Feeding is optional, and a light spring application of controlled release fertiliser is plenty.

Pruning. Shear the spent flower stems off after the display to tidy it up. If a patch grows too thick, pull sections out and press the pieces into bare soil elsewhere, where they root without any help.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as tube stock, which is how a groundcover should be bought: small plants at low cost, so a whole bed goes in at once. Each plant arrives as a modest rooted piece with a few pairs of leaves, not a full clump, and it will look sparse for the first month.

Succulents travel well and a little leaf drop in transit is normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Expect the bed to close over within a season in warm weather. One honest caution: crassulas are toxic to cats and dogs. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A guide to planting groundcovers
• Browse the full succulent range
• Compare groundcover plants
• Plants for retaining walls and slopes

Common questions

How many plants do I need per square metre?

About eleven at 30cm spacing. Going wider saves money but leaves gaps for weeds through the first year, which costs more in labour than the extra plants would have.

How do I get the purple colour?

Give it more sun. The purple flush is a response to strong light and dry conditions, so a plant in full shade with regular water will stay plain green.

Is it safe around pets?

No. Crassulas are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so it is not the right choice for a yard where a dog grazes on plants.

Will it take over the garden?

It spreads steadily and roots where the stems touch soil, so give it a defined bed or an edge. Unwanted growth pulls out easily by hand.