Crassula ovata

For the dwarf jade plant, see Portulacaria afra.

Crassula ovata
a small, potted individual of C. ovata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Saxifragales
Family:	Crassulaceae
Genus:	Crassula
Species:	C. ovata
Binomial name
Crassula ovata (Miller) Druce (1917)
Synonyms
Cotyledon lutea Lam. nom. illeg. Cotyledon ovata Mill. Crassula argentea Thunb. Crassula articulata Zuccagni Crassula nitida Schönland Crassula obliqua Aiton Crassula portulacea Lam.

Crassula ovata, commonly known as jade plant, friendship tree, lucky plant, or money tree, is a succulent plant with small pink or white flowers. It is native to South Africa and Mozambique, and is common as a houseplant worldwide. It is sometimes referred to as the money tree; however, Pachira aquatica also receives this nickname.

Description

The jade plant is an evergreen with thick branches. It has thick, shiny, smooth, leaves that grow in opposing pairs along the branches. Leaves are a rich jade green, although some may appear to be more of a yellow-green. Some varieties may develop a red tinge on the edges of leaves when exposed to high levels of sunlight. New stem growth is the same color and texture as the leaves, but becomes brown and woody with age. Under the right conditions, they may produce small white or pink star-like flowers in early spring.

Numerous varieties and cultivars have been selected, of which C. ovata 'Hummel's Sunset' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

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  Flower and buds

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  C. ovata as an indoor bonsai

• Jade Flower.jpg

  Flowers

Distribution

Crassula ovata is native to Mozambique and to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa.

Cultivation

As a succulent, Crassula ovata requires little water in the summer, and even less in the winter. It is susceptible to overwatering.

C. ovata may garnish a red tinge around its leaves when grown with bright sunlight. In more extreme cases, the green colour of the plant is lost and can be replaced by yellow. This is caused by the jade plant making pigments such as carotenoids to protect from harsh sunlight and ultraviolet rays. The jade plant also does best in rich, well-draining soil. The plant also flowers in the wintertime, particularly during a cooler, darker, dry spell. C. ovata is sometimes attacked by mealybugs, a common nuisance of the succulents.

Propagation

The jade plant is also known for its ease of propagation, which can be spurred by clippings or even stray leaves which fall from the plant. Jade plants propagate readily from both with success rates higher with cuttings. In the wild, propagation is the jade plant's main method of reproduction. Branches regularly fall off wild jade plants and these branches may root and form new plants.

Like many succulents, jade plants can be propagated from just the swollen leaves which grow in pairs on the stems. While propagation methods may vary, most will follow similar steps. Typically, the wounds on the leaves are left to dry and callous over. Then the leaves are placed in or on soil. Roots begin to grow on severed leaves about four weeks after being removed from the stem. Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity affect the speed at which the roots and new plant develop. Foliage usually appears soon after new roots have formed.

Bonsai

The jade plant is well known for its bonsai capabilities, since it forms a bonsai very easily when pruning is done correctly. Many who learn bonsai begin with a jade plant, since they are durable, easy to put through the bonsai process, and attractive.

Cultivars

File:Matthaei Botanical Gardens - IMG 8975.JPG

'Gollum'

• 'Monstruosa' (syn. 'Cristata', 'Gollum', 'Hobbit')
• 'Tricolor'

See also

• Crassula arborescens

External links

• Crassula ovata at succulent-plant.com