Jade Plant
Location
Cactus & Succulent Garden
- Common Name: Jade Plant (other common names: Crassula Species, Friendship Tree, Lucky Plant, Money Plant)
- Scientific Name: Crassula ovata
- Family Name: Crassulaceae
- Origin: South Africa
- Height: 4’ – 6’
- Width: 2’ – 4’
- Growth: grows quickly
- Zone: 9A – 11
- Light Needs: Full sun/Partial shade/dappled shade (bright light, but appreciate some afternoon shade)
- Salt Tolerance: can tolerate wind and salt air
- Soil/PH/Texture: prefers well-drained loamy potting mixture, but will tolerate poor soils, mildly acidic soils, (pH 6.1 – 6.5)
- Soil Moisture: average water needs, regularly but do not over water and needs excellent drainage, allow soil to dry between watering, needs a resting period from fall to winter.
- Drought Tolerance: moderate – high
- Pests/Diseases: No serious insect or disease problems, but you should watch for aphids, scale, spider mites and mealybugs.
- Growing Conditions: easy to grow and low maintenance
- Characteristics: The thick, succulent leaves of the Jade plant are blue green/burgundy/dark green or multi-colored, opposite, obovate, and often have red edges. The leaves do not have petioles, so they are attached directly to the stem, jade plants will develop small, white/medium purple/pink, four-petaled flowers arranged in clusters, under 1” in size and appear in late fall to early winter.
- Propagation: by stem or leaf cuttings
- Wildlife: unknown
- Facts: toxic to and dogs, cats, and horses, as well as mildly toxic to humans, in some cases, with skin contact from the sap.
- Designer Considerations: use as a hedge, windbreak, specimen plant, accent, border plant, suitable for xeriscaping and for container plants on a patio or deck.
