jade plant (Crassula ovata) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Jade plant is a South African grown as a houseplant across the United States. Its glossy oval leaves grow in opposite pairs, and its thickening stems give it the shape of a small tree. Jade plant is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten and may cause vomiting or diarrhea.

Appearance

Growth form: This branching succulent shrub can reach about 3–6 ft (0.9–1.8 m) outdoors.
Leaves: Opposite, fleshy oval leaves are glossy green and may develop red edges in strong light.
Flowers: Small white or pale pink star-shaped flowers can appear at branch tips. Blooming is uncommon indoors.

Look-alikes

silver dollar jadeCrassula arborescens

Jade plant usually has smooth, glossy green leaves. Silver dollar jade has rounder blue-gray leaves with small maroon speckles on the upper surface.

Why they get mixed upBoth are branching succulents sold as jade plants.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: houseplants
warm-climate gardens
Range: Native to southeastern Africa, it is widely grown indoors in the United States and is also grown outdoors in California.

Growing it

Care: Use a pot with good drainage, give it bright light, and let the mix dry between waterings.
Propagation: A leaf or stem cutting can grow into a new plant.
Toxicity: Jade plant is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten and may cause vomiting or diarrhea.

Name and classification

About the name: Crassula argentea and Crassula portulacea are older names for this species. Jade tree is another name for jade plant.
Varieties and forms: The tube-leaved Gollum form has curled leaf tips. Cultivars also include compact plants and plants with cream-colored leaf patches.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: Lucky plant and money plant are other common names for jade plant.
Money plant can also mean unrelated plants, so the scientific name helps when comparing labels.

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