The name of the genus Cotyledon is derived from the Greek word kotyledon or kotyle meaning ‘cupped’, ‘hollowed’ or ‘a cavity’, which refers to the rounded, cupped leaves typical of plants in this genus. The species name adscendens is derived from a Latin word meaning ‘climbing’ or ‘ascend’, which refers to its climbing growth habit which makes this species unique within the Cotyledon genus. This species is commonly known as the climbing cotyledon, referring to its scrambling growth habit.

Cotyledon adscendens was named by botanist Robert Allen Dyer in volume 27 of the publication Flowering Plants of Africa in 1949. Cotyledon adscendens is a member of the Crassulaceae, a family of succulent plants which consists of about 30 genera and 1 400 species in the world, with 5 genera in South Africa, Crassula, Kalanchoe, Cotyledon, Tylecodon and Adromischus, many of them well-known ornamentals. The species of this family prefer dry and rocky habitats all over the world, mostly in warm areas with South Africa and Mexico having highest diversity of Crassulaceae species. They are mostly perennials, playing an important role in economic development. The species from the Crassulaceae family are mostly famous for their ability to store water in their leaves and stems, making them drought resistant plants.

Cotyledon is a small genus within the Crassulaceae family consisting of 19 accepted species all of which occur in  South Africa. They possess pendulous, tubular flowers with parts in fives, distinctive features which distinguish them from other members of their family. Also, cotyledons can differ widely in size, for instance, Cotyledon velutina can reach up to 3 m in height while Cotyledon tomentosa is only about 150 mm tall. They also stand out with their bright orange, red or yellow flowers and range of different leaf shapes and colours. One species, Cotyledon petiolaris, has short leaf petioles a which is a feature not often seen in the Cotyledon genus.