Gollum jade

Sun

Full sun to partial shade outdoors; a sunny window indoors. Introduce strong sun gradually to prevent scorching.

Water

Water thoroughly, then let the potting mix dry out before watering again. Water much less in cool weather; never leave the pot standing in water.

Soil

Sharply drained, gritty soil or cactus potting mix amended with pumice or coarse grit. Use a pot with drainage holes.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Small clusters of white to pale pink, star-shaped flowers in winter or early spring on mature plants; flowering is uncommon indoors.

Foliage

Evergreen. Thick, glossy green leaves form short tubes with cupped tips, often edged red in bright light. Stems become woody with age.

Growth

Slow

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.8 ft (0.25 m)

2. After 1 year

   1 ft (0.3 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.2 ft (0.35 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.3 ft (0.41 m)

5. After 5 years

   1.7 ft (0.51 m)

About 10 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Check that the potting mix has dried well below the surface before watering.
• Feed lightly with a diluted cactus fertilizer two or three times during spring and summer.
• Bring containers under cover before frost; aim to keep them above 41°F (5°C).
• Move indoor plants into outdoor sunshine gradually over one to two weeks.
• Repot in spring only when crowded or when the mix has deteriorated, using a pot just slightly larger.

Pruning. Prune in spring or early summer, cutting long branches just above a leaf pair to encourage branching. Remove dead or damaged growth with clean tools and avoid heavy pruning during cool, low-light weather.

Spring

Check roots and repot if needed into fresh, sharply drained mix.

Late spring

Prune for shape and take stem cuttings from healthy growth.

Early summer

Move containers outdoors once nights are reliably mild, acclimating them gradually to stronger sun.

Summer

Water when the mix is dry and give an occasional diluted cactus feed.

Autumn

Stop feeding and bring pots into bright shelter before cold nights or prolonged rain.

Winter

Keep in the brightest available position and water sparingly, without letting the plant remain severely shrivelled.

• Use a single mature plant in a plain container to highlight its branching shape and tubular leaves.
• Group with compact echeverias and small aloes in a sunny, frost-free container display.
• Place among rocks and gravel in a sheltered succulent garden with excellent drainage.
• Grow in a sunny courtyard pot that can be moved under cover for winter.

Garden styles it suits: Modern, Architectural minimal, Desert modern, Modern courtyard, Dry gravel garden and Small-space.

Plant it with: Echeveria, Zebra haworthia, Lace aloe and Golden barrel cactus.

Wildlife: Flowers can attract bees and other small insects where plants bloom outdoors. It offers little wildlife value when kept indoors.

• Root or stem rot: soft, dark tissue usually indicates excessive moisture. Remove rotten material, take healthy cuttings if necessary, and improve drainage and watering intervals.
• Mealybugs: inspect leaf joints and roots; isolate affected plants and dab visible insects with a cotton bud lightly moistened with rubbing alcohol, testing a small area first.
• Scorched leaves: pale or brown patches can follow a sudden move into strong sun. Provide temporary shade and increase exposure gradually.
• Stretched, weak growth: move the plant to brighter light and rotate the pot regularly; prune elongated stems during active growth.

Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten; leaves and stems can cause vomiting, lethargy and poor coordination. Human ingestion may cause stomach upset, and sap may irritate sensitive skin. Reliable information on toxicity to horses is limited, so keep it out of their reach.

• Hobbit jade (Crassula ovata 'Hobbit')

  Leaves are usually curled lengthwise with an open seam, rather than forming the more fully closed tubes and cupped tips typical of Gollum. Nursery labels are sometimes mixed up.

• Jade plant (Crassula ovata)

  The ordinary species has broad, flat, oval leaves rather than tubular ones.

Crassula refers to the thick leaves, ovata means egg-shaped, and the cultivar name 'Gollum' refers to the character in J. R. R. Tolkien's stories.

Propagation. Take stem cuttings in spring or summer and let the cut ends dry and callus for several days before inserting them into barely moist, gritty propagation mix. Keep in bright, indirect light and water cautiously until rooted. Leaf cuttings are possible but slower and less dependable.

Accepted botanical name

Crassula ovata

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Hawaii.

Native range

Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.