Jade Jade Plant, Friendship Tree, Pink Joy, beestebul, kerkij, kerky, plakkies, t'karkai, umxhalagube
Crassula ovata
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Where to buyJade belongs to the Crassula genus. Jade is also known as Jade Plant, Friendship Tree, Pink Joy, beestebul, kerkij, kerky, plakkies, t'karkai, umxhalagube
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The Jade Plant Wiki
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A large well-branched, compact, rounded, evergreen shrub 1 – 3 m tall with glossy, dark grey-green, oval, succulent leaves and rounded heads of pink flowers in winter-spring. The stem is stout and gnarled and gives the impression of great age, and its branches are also short and stubby but well-proportioned. Branches are succulent, grey-green in colour and in older specimens the bark peels in horizontal brownish strips.
The leaves are 30 -90 mm long and 18 – 40 mm wide, egg-shaped to elliptic, often with a red margin and a somewhat pointed end. They are in opposite pairs, the one pair arranged at right angles to the next, and they are clustered towards the ends of the branches. The bush is covered in masses of sweetly scented, pretty pale-pink, star-shaped flowers in tight rounded bunches during the cool winter months (June-August). The flowers develop into small capsules, each holding many tiny seeds.
Crassulas have a special way of reducing water loss from their leaves without limiting their ability to photosynthesise, known as Crassulacean Acid Metabolism or CAM. All plants need CO 2 (carbon dioxide) for photosynthesis. Most plants take in CO 2 during daylight hours through their stomata (pores in the leaves) and can’t avoid losing water at the same time throught these open pores. In Crassula the stomata are closed during the day but open at night when the CO 2 taken in is stored in the form of organic crassulacean acids. During the day, these acids are broken down and the CO 2 released is re-used in the photosynthetic process. In this way they lose much less water yet can photosyntesise normally during the daylight hours. Furthermore, during extremely dry periods they won’t even open their stomata at night, and will re-cycle the CO 2 within the cells. They won’t be able to grow at all but the cells will be kept healthy – this is known as CAM-idling.
In addition to being a CAM plant, and having succulent water-storing stems, leaves and swollen roots that give it the ability to survive droughts, this crassula can also survive being grazed, trodden on or knocked over, as it is able to root from any piece of stem, even a single leaf.
Wasp or hornet’s nest attached to stemThe flowers attract bees, wasps, flies, beetles and butterflies. The fine dust-like seed is dispersed by the wind. Tortoises love the leaves but rarely devour them completely. Any discarded leaves left around the foot of the plant send down roots and grow into new plants. The stems also make handy bases for wasps to build their nests.
Jade belongs to the Crassula genus.
How to grow and keep Jade happy
Crassula ovata is easy to grow in normal loam soil, but it must have good drainage. It thrives in full sun or semi-shade, but will flower best in a sunny position. Feed with plenty of compost, organic or inorganic fertilisers, and take care not to overwater. This plant is tolerant of drought, wind and coastal conditions. Although it comes from a frost-free environment, it should tolerate a winter minmum of -1° C (zone 10) but is best protected from frost to prevent the flowers from being damaged.
Crassula ovata is a wonderful sculptural plant for pots, tubs, rockeries, retaining walls and gravel gardens and is the ideal plant for a water-wise garden. It can also be grown in pots indoors. To induce a potted specimen to flower, move it into a sunny or brightly lit position during summer and autumn – but if it has been in a cool low-light spot remember to introduce it to stronger light gradually or the leaves will be scorched. Also, don’t put it behind glass in full sun, rather move it to an outside sunny spot or into a spot that receives bright light but no direct sun. Particularly with potted specimens, remember that it needs little water, so water sparingly in summer and withold water during winter. It’s best to drench the soil and then allow it to dry out before watering again. The plant will tolerate periods of drought effortlessly but will soon rot if left to stand in wet soil.
How to sow and germinate Jade
Propagate by seed or cuttings. Seed can be sown in spring, summer or autumn in frost-free areas. Seedlings can be watered with a fungicide to prevent damping off.
How to transplant Jade
Cuttings root at any time of the year but optimal rooting is achieved during summer. Keep them fairly dry to prevent them from rotting.
How to harvest Jade
Companion plants for Jade
These plants will grow well with Jade:
Repellent plants for Jade
These plants will not grow well with Jade so avoid planting these within close proximity:
Common Jade pests
These pests are known to attack Jade plants:
Common Jade diseases & problems
These problems and diseases are known to effect Jade plants:
How long does Jade take to grow?
These estimates for how long Jade takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world. Start logging and journaling your observations to participate!
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Jade Etymology
Crassula ovata was first described in England in 1768. The name Crassula is the diminutive of the Latin crassus which means thick or fat, referring to the fleshy nature of the genus as a whole. The species name ovata means egg-shaped, referring to the leaves.
Jade Folklore
The Khoi and other African tribes ate the roots, they were grated and cooked after which they were eaten with thick milk. The leaves were also used medicinally, boiled in milk as a remedy for diarrhoea, and used to treat epilepsy, corns and as a purgative.
In the Far East, Germany and the USA it is traditionally grown in square porcelain tubs with ‘lion feet’ to bring good financial luck, and has attracted more common names including the Money Tree, Penny Plant, Dollar Plant and Tree of Happiness.
Other names for Jade
Jade Plant, Friendship Tree, Pink Joy, beestebul, kerkij, kerky, plakkies, t’karkai, umxhalagube
Crassula ovata, Crassula argentea, Crassula obliqua, Crassula portulacea
Footnotes
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