Succulent Question

Posted August 30, 2011 8:09 am & filed under Questions, Reader Photos.

David called the store to ask us what was happening to his succulent. I asked him to send us a photo and here it is.

Hi

This is the plant. The normal form is in the foreground.

Thanks,
David

David,
The plant is Graptopetalum paraguayense, and the “deformed” part is what we call “Crested”. It is a genetic mutation, usually caused by a virus, and it makes the growing tip of the plant grow out linearly rather than the normal branching and rosette. There’s nothing to worry about – crested plants are often prized and collected.
Peter