Jessie Keith
Family
Crassulaceae
Botanical Name
Crassula ovata
Plant Common Name
Jade Plant
General Description
Almost everyone knows the ever-popular jade plant. This South African succulent is a rubbery-stemmed evergreen shrub with fleshy bright green leaves that look outstanding year round. In late-winter or spring it produces a wealth of tiny, starry white or pinkish flowers borne in small clusters. It is best known as a popular house plant, which can reach substantial proportions over the years, but also makes an outstanding landscape specimen in arid regions where winters are very mild.
Jade plant is succulent through and through. It has tree-like branching and smooth, glossy, oval leaves that are thick and succulent. Leaf color ranges from bright green to dark green and turns more of an olive green to reddish color in the chill of winter or when plants are highly water deprived. As it ages, the grayish trunk and stems become massive and thick. Leaves and stems that break off or reach to the ground easily root to become new plants.
If you seek a super tough potted plant, look no further. Jade plant is wonderfully easy to grow if its most basic cultural requirements are met. It grows best in full sun (but will tolerate part sun) and requires average to poor, sharply drained soil with a neutral pH. Established plants require little supplemental water. They thrive in rocky or sandy dry soil and readily survive on modest rainfall alone. Excessive moisture will cause root and stem rot, particularly if soil is not a fast-draining.
In addition to making an excellent houseplant, jade plant excels as a rock garden shrub or foundation accent where frosts are rare and soils never soggy. If nipped by light frosts, leaves may become spotted; hard freezes will cause stem dieback, but new leaves will sprout from the surviving, firm stems and trunks.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 13
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Cactus or Succulent
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
2'-9' / 0.6m - 2.7m
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Width
2'-5' / 0.6m - 1.5m
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Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter
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Native To
Southern Africa, South Africa
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Sometimes
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Attracts
Butterflies
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Self-Sowing
No
