by Richard Pearman

Created on: February 06, 2008

There are a number of different Jade plants but they're basically two species, belonging to two different families. The commoner species has leaves about 3cm long, grows to about 1m high and has whitish flowers. This is called Crassula ovata (its previously gone by a number of other names: C. argentia, C. arborescens and C. portulacea) and belongs the Crassulaceae; the family which includes Sedum (stonecrop), Sempervivum (house leek) and Kalanchoe (flaming Katie). Crassula is a larger, variable genus, most species being small (mostly 30cm high or less) leaf succulents. The less common species has leaves about 1cm long, grows to about 3m high and has pink flowers (although you're only likely to see them if you live in a very sunny climate). This is Portulaccaria afra and belongs to the Portulaccaceae; the family which includes Lewisia and Portulacca. Portulaccaria contains only one other species which is very rare.

Both these plants are succulents and therefore should be grown in fast draining compost, watered about once a week in warm weather and given bright light. I think it's probably the last point people tend to forget about. Like most Crassulaceae, C. ovata is very easy to grow. It likes some water in the winter (depending on how warm it's being kept), and likes to be kept cool (somewhere around 5-10C but it will survive light frost). If you live in a warm, dry climate, you can probably grow it outdoors and it dose seem to like being put outdoors in the summer in colder climates. The main problem is mealy bug, which will be deterred by cold or placing outside. It can also be treated with insecticides but Crassulas are very sensitive to systemic insecticides and Malathion.

In my experience Portulaccaria is somewhat more temperamental than Crassula. It probably isn't as fussy about being cool in winter but is more sensitive to frost.

Both can be propagated by leaf or stem cuttings (although variegated forms revert to solid green if you try to grow them from leaf cuttings). Just leave it a few days for the cut to heal and then place on damp compost. Stem cuttings may need to be buried a few millimeters. If it still won't stand up, put stones around the base or tie it to a stick.

These are really plants I would recommend for beginner succulent collectors due to their tolerance. Grow them with your Aloes, Sanseverias, Opuntias, Echinopsis, Aeoniums, Echeverias, other Crassula species etc!

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