Jade plant varieties and their leaf shapes

Jade plant varieties and their leaf shapes

1. 01

   Plant names and labels

   Crassula ovata is the accepted name, and Crassula argentea is an older synonym. The named forms are cultivars or horticultural selections within that species.

   The useful groups are rounded-leaf standard forms, tubular or monstrose forms, compact or dwarf forms, and variegated or color-selected forms. These are visible-trait groups rather than formal taxonomic ranks.

2. 02

   How the varieties differ

   Gollum has tubular leaves, Hobbit has spoon-shaped leaves that curl inward, Minima is a small rounded-leaf dwarf, Hummel’s Sunset is yellowish-orange or red, and Variegata forms are pale green, white, yellow, or pink. ‘Gollum’ has red tips and grows tree-like to about 1.2 m (4 ft).

3. 03

   Care differences

   Cultivar habit and leaf form change the practical choice of container size, display space, and training. A compact or trailing form needs a different footprint from tree-like Gollum. Every form still wants full light, cactus mix, and lighter winter watering.