How to Grow Jade Plants That Look Like Shrek’s Ears
These cute and quirky plants can be easy-care houseplants for adding green to your desk, bookshelf or tabletop
Lauren Dunec Hoang
April 21, 2018
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and in-house designer for Sunset's Editorial Test Garden. Her garden designs have been featured in the Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping, Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings (cover), Inhabitat, and POPSUGAR.
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and... More
Take a look at the fleshy, medium green leaves of these jade plants and tell us, do they not look like Shrek’s ears? Comparisons to a certain big, friendly ogre and his spoon-shaped ears aside, it turns out that the names for these two jade cultivars, often used interchangeably, are just as fun.
The botanical names for these two very similar jade plants are Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ and C. ovata ‘Hobbit’. Both make perfect tabletop houseplants and are very easy to grow.
Caution: All plants in the Crassula genus are toxic to pets if eaten.
The botanical names for these two very similar jade plants are Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ and C. ovata ‘Hobbit’. Both make perfect tabletop houseplants and are very easy to grow.
Caution: All plants in the Crassula genus are toxic to pets if eaten.
Photo by Forest and Kim Starr
Botanical names: Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ and C. ovata ‘Hobbit’
Common names: Spoon jade, hobbit jade, Gollum jade, ET’s fingers, finger jade, trumpet jade
Temperature requirement: Grows anywhere as a houseplant; outside, grows best in mild climates (USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone); in colder areas, plan to bring potted plants indoors in winter
Water requirement: Low to moderate (water only when dry); in winter, water only when leaves begin to shrivel; thrives in well-drained soil
Light requirement: Bright, indirect light to full sun; needs shelter from intense sun
Mature size: Up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide if grown for years outdoors; generally reaches 6 to 12 inches tall and wide when grown as houseplants
Seasonal interest: Evergreen; pink flowers can form on mature spoon jade grown outdoors
Common names: Spoon jade, hobbit jade, Gollum jade, ET’s fingers, finger jade, trumpet jade
Temperature requirement: Grows anywhere as a houseplant; outside, grows best in mild climates (USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone); in colder areas, plan to bring potted plants indoors in winter
Water requirement: Low to moderate (water only when dry); in winter, water only when leaves begin to shrivel; thrives in well-drained soil
Light requirement: Bright, indirect light to full sun; needs shelter from intense sun
Mature size: Up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide if grown for years outdoors; generally reaches 6 to 12 inches tall and wide when grown as houseplants
Seasonal interest: Evergreen; pink flowers can form on mature spoon jade grown outdoors
Photo by jjacek
Where to put it. Indoors, jade grows best in a spot that has bright light, either direct or indirect. Places near a south-facing or west-facing window often work well.
In the garden, plant it, or position a pot, where it will receive full sun to partial shade. Shelter the plant from wind and areas that receive baking heat, such as a hot, radiant wall.
Indoors or outside, it can tolerate spots with a lower amount of sunlight as long as the soil stays dry.
Where to put it. Indoors, jade grows best in a spot that has bright light, either direct or indirect. Places near a south-facing or west-facing window often work well.
In the garden, plant it, or position a pot, where it will receive full sun to partial shade. Shelter the plant from wind and areas that receive baking heat, such as a hot, radiant wall.
Indoors or outside, it can tolerate spots with a lower amount of sunlight as long as the soil stays dry.
How to use it. Use jade as a playful potted accent. Small plants look good growing in little pots set on a desk, bookshelf or tabletop, or mixed with other potted plants. Grown for years, it forms a thick trunk and can be cultivated as a bonsai.
Outdoors, it can reach up to 5 feet tall. Plant it in the ground at the back of a low-water border for height and textural foliage interest, or try a trio of pots set along a bright balcony.
Why we love it. Jade is the perfect easy-care succulent to add a hit of green to indoor spaces. Plus, the funny ear-shaped leaves and playful common names are a great conversation starter.
Compared with other succulents, jade can live for longer periods of time in areas with low light. You may have seen these plants in potted arrangements on restaurant tables indoors — a situation where they receive low light and, most likely, inconsistent watering.
As it turns out, allowing the soil to stay dry helps these plants survive low-light conditions and reduces the risk of root rot. For healthier plants, break up their time in low light by moving potted plants to bright light every few weeks.
Outdoors, it can reach up to 5 feet tall. Plant it in the ground at the back of a low-water border for height and textural foliage interest, or try a trio of pots set along a bright balcony.
Why we love it. Jade is the perfect easy-care succulent to add a hit of green to indoor spaces. Plus, the funny ear-shaped leaves and playful common names are a great conversation starter.
Compared with other succulents, jade can live for longer periods of time in areas with low light. You may have seen these plants in potted arrangements on restaurant tables indoors — a situation where they receive low light and, most likely, inconsistent watering.
As it turns out, allowing the soil to stay dry helps these plants survive low-light conditions and reduces the risk of root rot. For healthier plants, break up their time in low light by moving potted plants to bright light every few weeks.
Photo by Forest and Kim Starr
Care tips. There are easy-care plants, and then there are plants that need almost no care at all to thrive. Jade falls into the latter camp. For potted plants, start with a container filled with quick-draining cactus and succulent potting soil, making sure the container has a drainage hole. In the garden, plant in soil that drains well.
Jade has few pests and isn’t fussy when it comes to fertilizer or any other special treatment. Basically, just try your best not to overwater it. In spring and summer, water about once a week, but only if the soil feels dry. If your plant is in an area with bright, indirect light, it will dry out less quickly than a plant in full sun, taking just a bit of water every week. Dial back watering further in fall and winter, watering only enough to keep leaves from shriveling.
In climates with winter temperatures that fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or 4.4 degrees Celsius, bring potted jade plants inside to a spot by a bright window or into a greenhouse. Some sources list jade as being tolerant down to near-freezing temperatures outdoors.
Care tips. There are easy-care plants, and then there are plants that need almost no care at all to thrive. Jade falls into the latter camp. For potted plants, start with a container filled with quick-draining cactus and succulent potting soil, making sure the container has a drainage hole. In the garden, plant in soil that drains well.
Jade has few pests and isn’t fussy when it comes to fertilizer or any other special treatment. Basically, just try your best not to overwater it. In spring and summer, water about once a week, but only if the soil feels dry. If your plant is in an area with bright, indirect light, it will dry out less quickly than a plant in full sun, taking just a bit of water every week. Dial back watering further in fall and winter, watering only enough to keep leaves from shriveling.
In climates with winter temperatures that fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or 4.4 degrees Celsius, bring potted jade plants inside to a spot by a bright window or into a greenhouse. Some sources list jade as being tolerant down to near-freezing temperatures outdoors.
Photo by jjacek
How to propagate. Like other types of jade plants, these can be easily propagated through cuttings. Start with a few cut “ears” or stem sections, and soon you’ll have baby jade plants.
1. Using a sharp knife or pruning shears, cut a small section of stem or leaves where they meet the base or stem.
2. Allow the cuttings to dry out for a few days until a callus forms over the cut end.
3. Lay the cuttings on a bed of cactus and succulent potting mix in partial shade, and water lightly until roots form (in a few weeks).
4. Pot up the cuttings in small containers filled with fresh cactus and succulent mix, and move them to a space with bright, indirect light.
Learn more about propagating succulents
More
5 Tips to Keep Your Indoor Succulents Thriving
See indoor pots and planters
How to propagate. Like other types of jade plants, these can be easily propagated through cuttings. Start with a few cut “ears” or stem sections, and soon you’ll have baby jade plants.
1. Using a sharp knife or pruning shears, cut a small section of stem or leaves where they meet the base or stem.
2. Allow the cuttings to dry out for a few days until a callus forms over the cut end.
3. Lay the cuttings on a bed of cactus and succulent potting mix in partial shade, and water lightly until roots form (in a few weeks).
4. Pot up the cuttings in small containers filled with fresh cactus and succulent mix, and move them to a space with bright, indirect light.
Learn more about propagating succulents
More
5 Tips to Keep Your Indoor Succulents Thriving
See indoor pots and planters
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spyarchive, thank you, I will definitely try your recommendation and may add a tiny bit of hot sauce to the mix unless you have heard of damage to the plant from such application. Some plants take to it, some get burned. Bugs do not like spicy sauces.
I bought a young plant back in February. I’m curious how long does it take for the stem to turn in the bark texture like in the picture.