Cooper 's Stonecrop Bird's Nest

This diminutive, mat-forming succulent is a hidden gem for the UK rockery or alpine house. Crassula exilis subsp. cooperi produces tiny, pointed, green leaves that are densely packed into rosettes, often speckled with dark pits or dots on the upper surface. In brighter light, the foliage can take on attractive reddish hues. From mid-summer, the plant is covered in a profusion of very small, star-like, white to pale pink flowers that are surprisingly fragrant. With a hardiness rating of H4, it can survive outdoors in many parts of the UK if protected from excessive winter wet. It is perfect for filling small crevices in stone walls or as a 'living mulch' around taller succulents in containers. It prefers a gritty, free-draining soil and a sunny position to keep the growth compact and flowering prolific. It is a slow-grower that adds a fine-textured, delicate appearance to any succulent collection.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Gritty, well-drained loam.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug, Sep.