26 Types of Jade Plants for Your Indoors (and Outdoors)

Native to South Africa and Mozambique, Jade is a popular houseplant around the world. It is a prized possession for gardeners due to its low-maintenance. These succulents belong to the genus Crassula and family Crassulaceae, and are one of the most popular houseplants not only because of the beauty they add to a home but because most people believe that it gives fortune and luck. It is very easy to care for jade plants and they can even grow in poor light conditions. Occasional watering, light pruning, and keeping them away from direct sunlight is all you really need to do to care for a jade plant. In return, it will reward you with lush green succulent foliage that adds beauty to any room.

Different Varieties of the Succulent Jade Plants

1. Silver Jade Plant (Crassula Arborescens)

Silver Jade Plant

This type of jade plant is also known as the jade plant, silver dollar plant or money plant. This type of jade plant is believed to bring luck in a home. It is best identified for its grayish-silver leaves that have a dollar shape. This type of jade plant lives well outdoors but can also live indoors.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

2. Ripple Jade (Crassula Arborescens Undulatifolia)

Ripple Jade

This type of jade plant is most commonly known as the Ripple Jade. It only grows at about 3-ft and is considered as a slow-growing jade plant. It is also compared to a bonsai plant for its size although that is really its natural height.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

3. Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ (‘Gollum Jade’)

Crassula Ovata Gollum

Commonly known as Lady Fingers because of its curiously protruding, finger-like glossy green leaves. They are cylindrical in shape and red at the tips. The tips bloom during the autumn-winter months with pinkish-white flowers.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

4. Crassula ‘Blue Bird’ (‘Blue Bird Jade’)

Crassula Blue Bird

Commonly known as the Blue Bird money plant or Jade Plant. It’s a slow-growing shrub like most jade plants that are found in nature, but its leaf coloration sets it apart from other varieties. It has mixtures of aqua, cream, green, and red. Its maximum height hovers around 50 centimeters, and its size can be reduced via containerization.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

5. Crassula ovata ‘Gollum Variegata’ (‘Variegated Gollum Jade’)

Crassula Ovata Gollum Variegata

This one has the most beautiful combined colors: green, white, pink, and more. This plant is advisable in a seaside garden and will generally thrive during winter and autumn. One interesting fact about this type is that the color of foliage changes under the cold.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

6. Money Plant (Crassula Ovata)

Crassula Ovata

The Crassula Ovata is the most common type of Jade Plant and is known as the money tree, the friendship plant or the Lucky Jade. It was the original variety of the Jade Plant that was first discovered and is one of the most popular varieties in circulation today. It is very hardy and the fastest growing of all the Ovata cultivars. Pinkish white flowers appear on its tips like for every Jade Plant during winter, and its height can extend to over 2 meters in some cases.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

7. Jade Plant ‘Botany Bay’ (Crassula Ovata ‘Botany Bay’)

Jade Plant Botany Bay

The Botany Bay variety of the Crassula Ovata was only recently introduced into the market in 2011. It is a compact and bushy plant which can be shaped and held in shape if confined to a pot. Its foliage experiences reduced stretching in low light conditions. The foliage also develops a red blush during dry conditions, usually prevalent during winter months. It can grow to a height of 1 meter over five years under ideal conditions.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

8. Crassula ovata ‘Harbour Lights’ (‘Harbour Lights Jade’)

Crassula Ovata Harbour Lights

The Harbour Lights variety of the Crassula Ovata is instantly recognizable due to its characteristic red color. Its distinct color has made it a popular houseplant. It has distinctly smaller leaves than that of the Crassula Ovata and becomes extremely red during the winter months. Pinkish white flowers, of course, appear during the autumn and early winter months, giving it an overall radiant appearance. It is considered ideal for seaside residential decoration.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

9. Crassula ovata ‘Hobbit’ (‘Hobbit Jade’)

Crassula Ovata Hobbit

Commonly known as the Bonsai Jade Tree, this variation is named after the fictional race of people in the Lord of the Rings novels by J.R.R. Tolkien. This variety is known for its small height, no larger than 30 centimeters. The species emerged from the Paradisia Nursery in Victoria. It is known to exhibit similar features to its related species such as the red tips and the pinkish white flowers in early winter.

As its name suggests, it can be exceptionally receptive to containerization and restriction of growth. It can be mixed in with several other succulents in a combination bowl or planted on its own, and it still exhibits dwarf height.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

10. Crassula Ovata ‘Hummel’s Sunset’ (‘Golden Jade’)

Crassula Ovata Hummel’s Sunset

rassula ovata ‘Hummel’s Sunset’ aka ‘Golden Jade’ is an evergreen succulent subshrub with glossy, rounded, fleshy green leaves adorned with golden yellow tips and red edges. The tip’s coloration is even more intense during the cooler months of the year.

The Golden Jade blooms starry white flowers in a cluster. Outdoors, it is one of the showier Crassulas. This Crassula ovata cultivar makes a very pretty bushy shrub and has very mild tolerance against frost. As it ages, the stout gray trunk and sturdy limbs become massive and thick.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

11. Crassula ovata ‘Minima’ (‘Miniature Jade’)

Crassula Ovata Minima

Crassula ovata ‘Minima’ is a dwarf succulent, up to 2.5 feet (75 cm) tall and up to 20 inches (50 cm) wide, with thick trunk and branches. Leaves are fleshy, rounded, and glossy green with reddish edges. Flowers are small, star-shaped, and coral-pink.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

12. Pink Jade (Crassula ovata ‘Pink Beauty’)

Pink Jade Crassula Ovata

Crassula ovata Pink Beauty also known as ‘Pink Jade’, is named so because it has more pink colors than jade colors on it. The foliage develops a red blush during the year under very dry conditions. The early winter and late autumn months show small pink flowers appearing on its tips that fill the exterior of the plant. It can grow to a height of 1 meter over a period of five years.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

13. Crassula Ovata ‘Crosby’s Compact’

Crassula Ovata Crosby’s Compact

Crassula ovata ‘Crosby’s Compact’, also called ‘Dwarf Jade’, is a slow-growing, much-branched succulent shrub with thick stems that hold up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, obovate leaves. It grows up to 3 feet (90 cm) tall. The leaves are green with red margins. New leaves can be suffused entirely with red tones. White, star-like flowers appear in clusters at the tips of the foliage in late fall through winter.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

14. Crassula ovata ‘Lemon & Lime’ (‘Variegated Jade’)

Crassula Ovata Lemon & Lime

Also known as Crassula ovata ‘Tricolor’, it is an elegantly branched shrub up to 4 feet tall, with attractive green foliage striped in ivory and pale yellow. The succulent leaves are up to 2 inches long and are often tipped with a pink margin on the new growth and when grown in the sun. The white, star-shaped flowers with pink overtones grow in showy clusters at the ends of the branches from late winter to early spring of the branches.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

15. Crassula ovata undulata (‘Wave Jade’)

Crassula Ovata Undulata

It is a slow growing succulent variety producing clumps of bright green, undulating leaves that have fine red margins. In late-winter or spring, it may produce pinkish white, star-shaped flowers borne in small clusters.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

16. String of buttons (Crassula Perforata)

String of Buttons

Known as Necklace Vine, Pagoda Plant, Stacked Crassula, or String of Buttons, Crassula ovata perforata is identified by its stacked fleshy triangular leaves. The leaves grow in opposite pairs reaching heights up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall. String of Buttons grows upright, but as the plant matures the collection of leaves prostrate—lie down. Flowers blossom in the spring.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

17. Crassula Capitella ‘Campfire’

Crassula Capitella Campfire

Displaying shades of bright red, yellow, and orange when in full sun—its preference, the fleshy leaves of Campfire Crassula are also shaped like propellers. It doesn’t grow tall—only 6 inches (15 cm)—but it grows up to 3 feet (90 cm) wide. Its white flower clusters bloom in summer.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

18. Variegated Trailing Jade (Crassula sarmentosa ‘Comet’)

Variegated Trailing Jade

The Variegated Trailing Jade is characterized by its reddish stems that arches and trails down. Attached to the almost 3 feet (90 cm) long stems are ovate yellow serrated leaves with green in the middle and outlined in red when grown in full sun. In the late fall, its pink buds turn to white flowers.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

19. Crassula marnieriana (Jade Necklace)

Crassula Marnieriana

Adorned by beautiful white to pinkish star-shaped flowers in late winter, the Jade Necklace or Crassula marnieriana has a red-rimmed, green leaf-covered stem. The leaves grow in a stacked formation like a necklace. Also known as Chinese Pagoda and Worm Plant, it grows to a height of about 1 foot (30 centimeters). Grown indoors or outdoors; it prefers full sun in hardiness zones 9a to 10b, with porous well-draining soil, and dry soil before watering.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

20. Crassula ‘Jade Tower’

Crassula Jade Tower

A hybrid Jade Plant between Crassula Perfoliata x Crassula Rupestris ssp. Marieriana, Crassula ‘Jade Tower’ is an upright plant with erect leaves forming columns. The leaves are green but look frosted with white papillae. Small, pinkish flowers appear, giving the plant its delicate look during blooming seasons. Enjoy it outdoors or indoors but avoid extreme frost and hot midafternoon sun.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

21. Crassula Picturata ‘Tiger Jade’

Crassula Picturata Tiger Jade

It is a compact and neat succulent jade. This short-growing variety has beautiful leaves that form a compressed, pagoda-like structure. It features pointed, green leaves that are dotted with purple, and the leaves also have a purple-colored underside. The leaves are margined by small fine hairs. The tiger jade plant feels powdery to the touch, but you can wash this off while watering the plant. When the tiger jade is stressed, it turns a reddish color overall. However, when happy, the plant grows lovely flowers. The plant’s short height is compensated by its spread that ranges from 6 to 8 inches.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

22. Elephant Bush (Portulacaria Afra)

Elephant Bush

Also called the dwarf jade or porkbush, this decorative plant has woody, red-colored stems with glossy, round, and small green leaves. A popular outdoor houseplant, the porkbush can grow up to 6 to 8 feet in height after which it starts spreading and so it’s advisable to keep it trimmed and shaped so it doesn’t get out of hand. The plant can withstand heatwaves and drought conditions and doesn’t flower at all, unlike the other jade plant varieties. In its native habitat, the porkbush is usually eaten by elephants and so it is also called the “elephant bush”.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

23. Yellow Rainbow Bush (Portulacaria Afra ‘Aurea’)

Yellow Rainbow Bush

Portulacaria Afra Variegata or Rainbow Bush is a variegated type that grows 12 feet high or even higher. The yellow-green leaves have cream highlights stemming from purplish red stalks. Rainbow Bush becomes very dense, making it difficult to kill. Prune it regularly to keep the form or allow it to branch and cascade like messy hair.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

24. Trailing Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Cascade’)

Trailing Elephant Bush

This type of Jade plant is also known as the Postrata—Low Elephant Bush or the Trailing Elephant Bush. Its main identification is that it has round leaves that grow from its stems. It is also one of the types that does not produce flowers. It only grows at a height of 1 meter. 

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

25. Large Leaf Elephant Bush (Portulacaria Afra ‘Large Leaf’)

Large Leaf Elephant Bush

This attractive variety produces rounded, fleshy green leaves with red edges on dark red stems. This beautiful succulent can be controlled by pruning when grown as a houseplant.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

26. Rainbow Bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Variegata’)

Portulacaria Afra Variegata

Rainbow Bush features cream-colored foliage, patterned with light green center stripes and a magenta tinge on the leaves edges.

Height/Width: 5-6 feet/2-3 feet

Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun

USDA Zone: 10-11

Best Jade Plants to Pick Based on Size

Largest Jade Plants: Silver Dollar Jade

Best Dwarf Jade Plants: Portulacaria Afra

Rarest jade plants: Gollum Jade

FAQs

Q.1. Do jade plants bloom?

Ans. Though Jade plants are known for their thick, glossy leaves, but they can also flower and produce seeds. When a jade plant blossoms, it will bloom with pink or white, star-shaped flowers that grow in clusters.

Q.2. How long can jade plants live? Ans.

With the proper care, jade plants can live between 50 and 70 years—sometimes even longer.

by | Updated: May 11, 2022

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