Succulents vary widely in their color and shape, adding a unique touch to any garden. In particular, s
Like variegated succulents, crested succulents arise from a genetic mutation that occurs during cell division. During division, multiple growing points are created, which crowd and push against each other. This results in unique, curved and twisted shapes forming that look very different from normal plants.
Learn more about the causes of crested and monstrose succulents and how to care for them.
Crested Succulent Development
Normal Plant Development
Plants have meristem tissue, which has undifferentiated cells that undergo cell division. Meristem cells are like the plant version of human stem cells because they go on to develop into many different types of tissues for the plant.
Normally at the tip of the stem, there is one apical meristem, which causes growth in a forward direction, encouraging the plant to grow taller and outward. This apical meristem is responsible for making the plant’s roots grow longer and the stem to grow taller.
Crested Plant Development
Crested succulents will have the word cristae added to their scientific name. Crested succulents occur when the plant develops a mutation at it’s growth points where the meristem cells are. Instead of a single apical meristem point, crested succulents have an apical meristem line, allowing growth all along that line. This leads to the plant flattening out and curling as it grows. Compact, clustered leaves grow on top of this ridge.
These growing points are placed in a disordered pattern, instead of being neatly layered like in uncrested succulents. Each growth point behaves as if it were the primary growth point causing the cells to multiply erratically and push against each other. This results in an overcrowded, unique leaf pattern.
Crested succulents look different from their normally shaped counterparts, but there are recognizable similarities between the two. Crested succulents will often have some parts that are normal.
Instead of the typical chubby leaves in a rosette shape normally seen in succulents, crested succulents will have many smaller, thinner leaves that bunch together.
Crested Echeveria– notice the small, tightly clumped leaves and how they are different from a normal Echeveria?
Monstrose Succulents
Crested and monstrose plants are formed through a similar process. Crested succulents tend to be flatter and wider, and are symmetrical because the apical meristem was divided. Their growth is still somewhat organized.
On the other hand, monstrose growth occurs when there are mutations all along the meristem tissue, causing the points to develop randomly. This results in bumpy, asymmetric and stunted growth. In monstrose mutations, the damage was not as precise as it was for crested succulents, leading to it’s strange shapes.
Monstrose plants are also called monster plants due to their abnormal and strange growth. Monstrose plants usually appear quite different from their normal counterparts, and may not have any recognizable features at all. They tend to grow slower than normal succulents.
Plants may crest at any time in their life, however, monstrose shapes only develop in young plants.
What Causes Crested Succulents?
Crested succulent formation is often unpredictable, so it is difficult to point out a single source. In general, crested and monstrose succulents occur due to injury occurring in a young plant. Some possible reasons include:
Random Genetic Mutations
A genetic mutation is a random change in the plant’s genetic code that occurs during replication. Mutations are random and spontaneous. Any change in a plant’s genetic code, however minor, can lead to a drastically different appearance.
This mutation can lead to cells at the tip multiplying at a much faster rate, leading to the whorls and fan shapes crested succulents are known for.
Chemical Stress
While growing, the succulent may be exposed to a harmful ingredient used in pesticides, insecticides or fertilizers. If the plant is exposed to toxic chemicals for a period of time, it can result in a genetic mutation, causing a variation in the plant’s genome.
Physical Stress
Causes of physical stress include:
- Insect damage, from insects eating the growing tip
- Animal damage
- Bacterial, fungal or viral infections
- Temperature extremes
- Seasonal changes
- Bumping or cutting the plant
If any of these physical stressors occurred at the tip of the growth at the apical meristem, it can lead to cresting.
Infections by pathogens can also lead to genetic changes causing cresting. For example, the pathogen Phytoplasma has been found to cause cresting.
Improper Nutrition
Certain nutrient deficiencies, such as zinc deficiencies, can lead to crested succulents.
Radiation
While plants do require sunlight for photosynthesis, the sun also has harmful rays in different wavelengths. Excess exposure to harmful rays can trigger a genetic mutation in the plant cells.
Species
Some species of succulents and cacti are more prone to cresting mutations than others. These predispositions are hereditary.
Crested Succulent Propagation
Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to propagate a crested succulent from leaves or seeds. Even though cresting and monstrose succulents occur due to genetic defects, these mutations cannot be inherited because the injury happened to a young plant.
Since these mutations causing cresting are not heritable by the offspring, seeds from a crested succulent will produce a normal plant, rather than a crested one.
Crested succulents are propagated by obtaining cuttings from a crested plant and grafting them onto a new plant. The crested graft obtains support from the base plant, which provides it with nutrients and stability.
Can Crested Succulents Revert Back?
Yes, as the plant leaves begin to grow more crowded, parts of the succulent can revert back to normal growth (called defasciation). If you wish to keep your succulent’s crested look, remove the normal growth because it will out-compete the crested parts and cause the whole plant to revert if left in place.
You may also see a normal succulent suddenly developing a crest at any point in it’s life.
Crested Succulent Care
In general, crested and monstrose succulents are more sensitive and require gentler care than their uncrested counterparts. This is because it is not normal for a succulent to be crested and it is not well-adapted to this shape.
Water your crested succulent even less than your other succulents because they are more susceptible to rot. They also should not be fertilized often, if at all.
If you notice normal growth appearing on your crested succulent, remove it quickly so it can maintain it’s crested shape.
As with other succulents, provide your crested succulent with plenty of sun and plant in a well-draining soil. Do not repot it too often, because it does not like being moved.
Buying Crested Succulents
Crested succulents are unusual and relatively rarer than normal succulents, so you may have noticed some can be a bit pricey. However, there are several varieties that are available for sale, so you can easily get one of these without breaking the bank.
Is cresting unique to succulents?
Crested and monstrose mutations are not unique to succulents. Any type of plant can be crested. However, crested succulents are more common than other types of plants because succulents are more able to survive harsher conditions and are hardier plants.
That was everything you needed to know about monstrose and crested succulents! Crested succulents add a unique look to any garden because no two are the same. Do you have any crested succulents? Still have any questions? Let us know down below!
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