Crassula is a quirky-looking group of succulents that have inspired some offbeat common names.
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The popular jade plant is one Crassula species. It and the less well-known crassulas available to the home gardener each have their own configuration of fleshy, water-retentive leaves and maybe a unique color or rosette shape.
Those quirks give rise to common names for the various species like silver dollar plant, worm plant, jade necklace, and calico kitty.
They share many traits and growing requirements, but they don’t often look that similar.
I’ll introduce you to this intriguing genus and then let you decide for yourself which ones should make their way into your houseplant or Zone 11 to 12 outdoor perennial collection.
Here’s what I’ll cover:
Cultivation and HistoryNative to South Africa, the species in the Crassula genus run the gamut from branching varieties like jade plants (C. ovata) to “stacked leaf” types like silver dollar (C. arborescens), to compact trailing types like jade necklace (C. marnieriana).
Crassula means “thick” in Latin. It’s an apt name for this genus since all varieties produce fleshy leaves where they store water.
Some varieties produce rosettes in various sizes and shapes, and they may feature a variety of colors, including white, pink, or magenta, in addition to bright green.
In the wild or when grown as a perennial outdoors, jade can reach six feet tall and blooms with clusters of waxy flowers.
Various other crassula species also bloom readily when grown outdoors, but the flowers aren’t as abundant as those of jade plants.
Jade grows wild
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