The Crassula ovata is the jade plant botanical name. It is a great choice when searching for an ornamental plant for your living space as they are low-maintenance plants that tend to flourish even in neglect.
There are over 200 types of jade plants, each with diverse looks and growth habits that could match your personal living space style.
Often seen as a lucky plant in Chinese culture, the jade plant is known for its short, flexy stems, tear-shaped waxy or shiny leaves, and a large display of beautiful blooms of different colors.
15 Crassula Ovata Types
Although most jade plants are low-maintenance plants, not all are suitable to be grown indoors. However, here are 15 popular types of jade plants to grow indoors.
Silver Jade Plant
Botanical Name | Crassula arborescens |
Common Names | Silver dollar plant, silver jade, money plant |
Origin | South Africa, Western Cape |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Succulent shrub plant |
The silver dollar plant or Crassula arborescens is a stunning jade plant type with a peculiar look. It features waxy leaves that are succulent and are carried by thick stems that don’t grow tall indoors, reaching 4 feet.
Although they can be grown outdoors, they are best grown indoors due to their small size. They prefer a room where they get access to bright but indirect sunlight. However, they require lots of air and little watering to stay healthy.
Gollum Jade Plant
Botanical Name | Crassula Ovata Gollum |
Common Names | Gollum Jade Plant, finger jade |
Origin | Mozambique, South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Evergreen, succulent plant |
Gollum Jade plant is another unusual species of the jade tree. It features deep green fleshy, waxy leaves that are carried by thick stems. The Gollum plant looks like a small tree or bonsai tree.
It is a low- maintenance plant that requires you to keep it in a room with access to sufficient bright, but indirect sunlight. Watering needs are sparse for the Gollum jade.
Miniature Jade Plant
Botanical Name | Crassula ovata minima |
Common Names | Miniature Jade Plant |
Origin | Mozambique and South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Evergreen, succulent shrub |
Crassula ovata minima is a beauty with a very short growth, reaching 2 to 3 feet at its full size. Although it is not regarded as a lucky plant, like its cousins, the Minima is a perfect ornamental plant that features tiny, compacted leaves that are round and grow in clusters.
The minima do well in areas with full sunlight or partial sunlight, they, however, do not require regular watering as that may damage their roots.
Ripple Jade Plant
Botanical Name | Crassula Undulatifolia |
Common Names | Crassula Blue Waves, Ripple Jade |
Origin | South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Evergreen, perennial, tree |
The Crassula Ripple Jade plant is often regarded as a slow-growing plant that has a maximum height of 3 feet. It is a bonsai tree that features succulent waxy leaves that have an unusual wrinkled shape and is green in color.
It does well in partial shade but can survive a few hours of direct sunlight. Watering should be kept minimal as the plant is susceptible to root rot.
- Dwarf Jade Plant
Botanical Name | Crassula Ovata Crosby Compact |
Common Names | Dwarf Jade Plant |
Origin | South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Succulent shrub plant |
Dwarf Jade plant is the smallest of the jade plant species or varieties. It measures 2.5 cm at full height and is known for its slow growth. The color of Dwarf jade plant’s leaves is often green, but it does have red margins that compliment it, giving the ornamental plants its gorgeous look.
They require full sunlight to flourish but can also survive areas of partial shade. They require little watering, but regular misting.
Crassula Ovata Ruby
Botanical Name | Crassula Ovata Ruby |
Common Names | Ruby Jade Plant |
Origin | South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Succulent, shrub perennial |
You can identify the Crassula Ovata Ruby with its unique red-spotted variegation on its deep green succulent leaves. These leaves are rather compacted and bushy as they require frequent pruning to stay in the right shape. They also produce pinkish-whitish flowers.
They are best grown indoors in areas with partial shade or bright indirect lighting, but their watering requirements remain the same as other jade plants.
Crassula Ovata Botany Bay
Botanical Name | Crassula Ovata Botany Bay |
Common Names | Botany Bay Jade Plant |
Origin | South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Succulent, shrub perennial |
The Botany Bay Jade Plant is a new addition to the Jade family. It was added in 2011 and is known for its bushy succulent light green leaves with red tips. The compact size of the Crassula variety measures up to 1 meter.
This Crassula Ovata variety requires partial shade to flourish. Under low lighting, the spread of the plant can be reduced, but ensure you water it once in 10 days.
Variegated Gollum Jade Plant
Botanical Name | Crassula ovata gollum variegata |
Common Names | Variegated Gollum Jade |
Origin | South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Evergreen, succulent plant |
There are a few notable differences between the Variegated Gollum jade and the Gollum jade. The variegated Gollum jade is a little bigger, it has a tubular shape and has an orange-tinted variegation on its leaves.
Both plant species share similar growth habits as they both require bright but indirect sunlight and little watering.
Crassula Ovata Hobbit
Botanical Name | Crassula Ovata Hobbit |
Common Names | Bonsai Jade Plant |
Origin | South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Evergreen, succulent plant |
Crassula Ovata Hobbit is a small variety of the Jade plant. It measures 30 centimeters at full height and can be planted alongside other small jade plants in a pot. It was named after a fictional race in “Lord of the Rings”, a book written by J.R.R Tolkien. It is known to produce beautiful pink flowering blooms.
Grow the Hobbit bonsai tree in areas of full sun, but can also do well in partial shade, the watering requirements are minimal for the plant.
Lady Finger Jade
Botanical Name | Crassula Ovata Skinny Fingers |
Common Names | Lady Finger Jade |
Origin | South Africa, Mozambique |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Succulent Shrub plant |
The Skinny finger or Ladyfinger jade shares a similar appearance with the Crassula Ovata Hobbit. However, the lady finger’s tubular leaves are a lot more narrow and slimmer than the Hobbit variety.
They also share similar growth requirements as the Lady Finger jade would grow in partial shade or under direct sunlight. Watering requirements are the same for both plants.
Pink Jade
Botanical Name | Crassula Ovata Pink Beauty |
Common Names | Pink Jade plant |
Origin | South Africa, Western Cape |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Evergreen flowering plant |
Pink Jade Crassula is known for its bushy flowering blooms. These blooms are pink in color and they last all through the year. The pink blooms might be more prominent at the end of the fall season and the start of the winter season.
To produce such prominent blooms, grow your Crassula plant in an area with full sunlight or partial shade. Watering should be done once a week.
Hummel’s Sunset
Botanical Name | Crassula Ovata Hummel’s Sunset |
Common Names | Hummel’s Sunset |
Origin | South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Perennial shrub plant |
The Hummel’s Sunset Crassula variety is a remarkable exotic plant that is known for its unique display. Its trunk resembles that of a bonsai tree and its foliage is known to change color from light green to red to gold during the winter season.
They are also easy to grow as they can grow in areas with low lighting and can also survive full or direct sunlight. Watering should be done once a week to keep the soil moist.
Campfire Jade
Botanical Name | Crassula Ovata Campfire |
Common Names | Campfire Jade Plant |
Origin | South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Evergreen flowering plant |
Campfire Jade is a new variety of the Crassula genus that can be grown both indoors and outdoors. It can get bushy so regular pruning and repot would be required. It features fiery red hues and light green foliage that resembles a propeller.
Direct sunlight is best for the Campfire Jade, also ensure you water them once a week to encourage healthy proper growth.
Moonglow Jade
Botanical Name | Crassula mesembryanthemoides |
Common Names | Crassula Moonglow |
Origin | South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | Evergreen Perennial plant |
Moonglow Crassula variety is a rare and unique variety of the Crassula plant, It is regarded as a small tree and is known for its dark, grayish-green leaves that are covered with tiny white hairs that give it a frozen glow.
Although it looks frozen, they prefer a humid climate and at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. It can also grow in partial shade and requires minimal watering.
Red Flame Jade
Botanical Name | Crassula capitella |
Common Names | Red Pagoda, Red Flame Jade |
Origin | South Africa |
Family | Crassulaceae |
Plant Type | SucculentPerennial plant |
This is a prized variety of the Crassula genus. It features bright green-colored, succulent leaves that change to bright red as they mature. The leaves are stacked on each other, getting smaller as they reach the peak. It is an awesome ornamental plant for living spaces.
Like most Crassula varieties, the Crassula Capitella requires direct sunlight for proper growth. Watering should be done once a week to keep the roots moist, and avoid overwatering the plant’s roots.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most distinguishing feature of the jade plant is its thick, fleshy tear-shaped, succulent leaves.
Jade plants go by many names, but they are most times called money plants, silver dollar plants,s or lucky plants.
Jade plants are slow-growing plants that grow at 2 inches each year.
Yes, jade plants are known to produce flowers, but they can grow for years without producing flowers.
No, Jade plants might be attributed to Chinese culture but they originate from South Africa.