1 named cultivar

‘Small Red Carpet’String of Buttons

cactus succulent

String of Buttons

The Story

Plant Bio

Crassula perforata, string of buttons, is a clumping succulent from the Cape provinces of South Africa, reaching one to two feet with sprawling stems. Short thick triangular grey-green leaves are held in opposite pairs that stack and spiral around the stem, appearing threaded onto it, and small pale yellow star flowers open in spring.

The stacked leaf pairs spiral as they climb the stem, which is the whole visual point and is lost when the plant is grown too dark — stems stretch, the pairs separate and the threaded look disappears. Bright light keeps them tightly packed. It sprawls with age rather than staying upright, which suits a hanging pot better than a table one.

Uses & Benefits:

Grey-green triangular leaves stacked and spiralling along the stems like threaded buttons.

Needs very little water, and restarts easily from a single tip cutting when it sprawls.

Butterflies and hummingbirds visit the flowers where it is grown outdoors.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Cactus Succulent

Height

18 inches

Width

30 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

9, 10

Water

Low

Humidity

Low

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

South Africa

Toxicity

Toxic to cats and dogs

Planting

How to Grow

Give it bright light, including some direct sun.
Use gritty, sharply draining cactus compost.
Water thoroughly, then let it dry out completely.
Keep it dry and cool through winter.
Restart from tip cuttings when stems sprawl.
Keep it away from cats and dogs.

Pro Tip

Stretched stems with gaps between the leaf pairs mean too little light — the tight stacked look only forms in bright conditions.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it the brightest light you have ☀️
Let it dry fully between waterings 🌵
Restart from tip cuttings 🌱
Keep it out of reach of pets 🐈

Don't

Grow it in a dim corner ❌
Overwater it ❌
Expect it to stay upright ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rest
Water

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Succulent container and dish gardenHanging pot where stems can sprawlBright windowsill houseplant

Companion Plants

Jade Plant EcheveriaHaworthia SedumString Of Pearls

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

String of Buttons questions

What zones can String of Buttons grow in?

String of Buttons is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is String of Buttons deer resistant?

Yes — String of Buttons is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does String of Buttons bloom?

String of Buttons typically blooms in spring to summer through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does String of Buttons need full sun?

String of Buttons does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is String of Buttons drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), String of Buttons handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.