The affinity of Crassula orbicularis for shady spots is affirmed by this large stand. Add humus and winter rain for the plants to multiply.

The species distribution straddles the southern mountain ranges that separate the semi-arid inland from the coast. The northerly part, from Worcester to the Little Karoo, continues eastwards through the Eastern Cape; coastally it goes from Bredasdorp to Port Elizabeth and further through the Albany scrub and onwards to KwaZulu-Natal.

Clayey soils on sheltered, rocky slopes are typical of the habitat. The photo was taken at the Minwater farm southwest of Oudtshoorn (Moriarty, 1997; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iSpot).