| Crassula ovata or Jade plants are shrubby succulent | | | | do better when they don't have an entire day of full |
| plants that make excellent choices for dry gardens | | | | sun. Crassula ovata are hardy to 41 degrees (5 |
| and container plants. Xeriscaping with drought tolerant | | | | degrees centigrade). A light frost will show up at |
| cactus and succulent plants has become popular in | | | | brown dots on leaves. Overhead protection is usually |
| dry areas or places where water conservation is a | | | | enough to protect succulents during a light frost. |
| concern. Jades have thick, deep green leaves | | | | Heavy frost, or a deep freeze will turn leaves brown |
| sometimes tinged with red on the edges. The leaf | | | | and shriveled. Frozen leaves will fall off, or you can |
| shape, like the name ovata implies, are oval from 1 - | | | | brush them off with your hands. If the plant branch |
| 2 inches long. | | | | or trunk is not damaged, new sprouts will form in a |
| Crassula ovata develop thick, fat trunks that have an | | | | few weeks. |
| aged look and will eventually grow up to 8 feet tall. In | | | | Green jade plants are able to live off rainfall alone in |
| late winter jade plants get 3 inch clusters of light pink | | | | many areas. In my southern California garden, |
| to pale salmon flowers with five petals. These | | | | crassula are happily growing in both full sun and |
| perennial plants are drought tolerant and only need | | | | shade, in heavy alkaline, clay soil. You can see photos |
| water once a month or so. | | | | of flowering jade plants at . |
| Indoors, succulent jade plants make good | | | | To root cuttings like jade plant or gollum jade, start |
| houseplants. They prefer bright, indirect light and can | | | | with a 5 or 6 inch cutting. Bury about half of the stalk |
| take a few hours of direct sunlight but they are also | | | | in soil. This will give you deep roots and helps the |
| adapted to low light. In a pot, Jade stay small and | | | | plant withstand drought better. Keep the soil moist |
| can even be used for bonsai. Crassula ovata is | | | | (like a squeezed sponge). After a month, cut back to |
| sometimes confused with Crassula argentia, which | | | | monthly watering. The leaves will probably shrivel a |
| has a similar growth habit, but has silvery grey leaves. | | | | bit as the plant forms roots: it is living off the stored |
| Crassula are usually not bothered by insects or | | | | energy in its leaves. This is normal. You may also lose |
| disease. The biggest problem crassulas face may | | | | a few leaves, which is also normal. The plant will start |
| come from over watering. This will result in a soggy | | | | growing again and may even flower in a year. |
| brown, rotting trunk. | | | | Crassula plants are versatile and easy to grow. Their |
| In the garden, drought tolerant jade plants will grow | | | | winter bloom make jade plants a great addition to |
| in shade to full sun. In hottest desert areas, crassula | | | | any garden or home landscape. |