Crassula, Dollar Plant, Jade Plant, Jade Tree, Money Tree, Finger Jade 'Gollum'

I have two pieces of this cool plant I had one person give me a piece naming as Gullum and another gift as E. T.'s fingers...Look similar...Read More will post more when I have more experience.

hiya,

I have two of these living together in a pot here in Berlin. I bought them as very small trees in 2002 in Germany...Read More and it is about 25-30 cm tall now 9 years later. Basically it has been an indoor plant but I now have a big terrace and it is spending time outdoors more. I am curious to see if it grows better. I have only repotted it once.... some of the branches have started to hang low, and i was wondering if i should trim them....?

I have only grown this plant outdoors (live in Southern California) so I have little to add about indoor life, or life where it gets belo...Read Morew freezing. It is one of the easiest of all the succulents to grow, though all the Crassula ovatas are similarly easy. This one tends to be a bit slower than the non-monstrose foms, and takes a long time to become a huge shrub... mine rarely make it over 5' tall without limbs sagging or breaking off. It does best in all day sun here... if grown in too much shade trunks and branches are too weak to support as much growth, and it eventually falls over and just wilts to the ground, until pruned heavily... then it recovers.

This plant, like all the C ovatas, has tremendous latitude when it comes to watering (remember, this is outdoors)... I water mine all summer, because those that don't get any water (we get over 100F frequently here) wilt and look a bit wrinkled. Lack of water when it's cool, but in sunlight, will result in nice reddish outlines along the leaf margins... but then winter rains take over and green them up again.

Outdoors I would characterize this as a winter grower, and that is when it gets most of its natural water here (never ever seen one rot in the ground from excess rain, even during periods of marked cold (high 20s to low 30sF) for weeks on end... but I suppose it could happen). So these 'expect' less water in summers, but don't seem to mind it... and obviously respond to water. So literally, this is an 'opportunistic' grower, growing when it has water to grow with.

Often confused with Crassula ovata 'Hobbit', an older and less monstrose form with leaves that look somewhat folded, luck Bunny ears. But 'Hobbit's do not have the 'suction cup' tips typical of some of 'Gollum's's leaves, and leaves are somewhat larger, and tend to be somewhat paler. Plants side by side are easy to tell apart. C 'Hobbit' is sort of a half way form between normal Crassula ovatas and 'Gollums'.

Here's a super easy indoor bonsai plant. Loves a lot of light but will do well in very low light as long as its kept on the dry side. ...Read Morer /> Don't water the leaves in a low light environment or during the winter. Personally, I never water them, except if they appear very dusty.
This plant will not stand to freeze, and will often linger a slow death if let to freeze: a plant with freeze damage is real prone to rot.
The bottom leaves on the plant will shrivel or prune a little when it's really thirsty. In extreme thirst bottom leaves will turn yellow and die.
Keep it dry during the winter-- as will many tropicals and cacti -- winter= dry season. this means fewer waterings and less water too.
This plant doesn't mind being potbound too much at all-- of course this slows growth.
Easy from cutting! Just let them scab for 3 days to a week, any piece of stem with a few leaves will work.

One of the easiest of all houseplants I've come across.

From http://www.cactuscollection.com:

Crassul...Read Morea argentea cv. 'Gollum' is considered to be a monstrose form of the popular jade plant (Crassula argentea). The leaves, unlike the flattened leaves of regular Jade, form odd tubular, lime green "fingers". The tip of the leaf is flared, but depressed in the center and often a brilliant, translucent red. Excellent as patio plant or landscape plant. With its red-tipped fingers atop a thick, gnarly trunk "Gollum" is also a great bonsai subject. The jade plant is a popular subject for bonsai training due to the inherent gnarly character of the thickened trunk and the ease with which it can be pruned and trained. In the case of "Gollum", the red-tipped "fingers" are an added plus to create an interesting bonsai plant. Porous soil with adequate drainage. Bright light to full sun. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch. Protect from frost.

from Plant Label:
Finger Jade var. Gollum
Native to South Africa. Considered to be a monstrose form of the jade plant. Wh...Read Moreite star shapped flowers in Winter. Porous soil with adequate drainage. Bright light to full sun. Protect from frost. Provide bright light/sun; hardy to 36F; to 4' tall. Water thoroughly when soil is dry.
CactusCollection.com

I've always heard this plant called "ET's Fingers." But whatever, it's a nice variation on the jade. Easy to grow and keep.

Slow grower, but loves to be ignored and makes an interesting addition to a succulent collection. Don't over-pot, or the dirt can stagnat...Read Moree and the roots will rot. Loves shallow pots and lots of sun, but mushes if it gets too cold or is overwatered. Offsets freely - I started with a small plant and now have 4 or 5 growing happily together.

Unusual Crassula to say the least. I have had mine for a few years now always outdoors in a shallow clay pot. That was one mistake since ...Read Morein our dry summers they tend to need frequent watering. Also,mine is never the green as the ones in the photos.Mine is reddish tinged with light green in full sun. Slow growers, i once saw a 24" plant for $100 at a succulent show.It did have that Bonsai small tree form.
This Januarys great California freeze brought temps down to 30F more or less for about a week. So far that has resulted in a few killed branches but otherwise it looks good. It's about 16" X16" and looks to be a long term plant.
2018: I long ago planted them in ground and they are now well over 4' and seem to have 5' reachable. The more water in summer..the bigger and fuller it will be. If you want that big impressive plant,dont starve it.

I just love the way this looks in my rock garden, but I have to bring it inside in the winter. It didn't do well inside this year, but I...Read More found some more babies for sale at Wal-Mart of all places, so they are now in the garden for this summer.

I was given a spoon jade plant for Christmas, it did fine until I repotted it last weekend, the leaves are all falling off & they look sh...Read Moreriveled up, can someone tell me what could have happend

Have this as both ornamentals and as a bonsai. Very nice plant, very forgiving. Not cold hardy in zone 7. Must over-winter in greenhouse ...Read Moreor indoors (with lots of light). Propagates very easily.

I believe this is this plant I have as well. It propogates very easily- often leaves fallen/broken off will self-sow at the base. This ...Read Moreplant does flower- mine has set buds for the first time. They appear small and white in clusters, with pink stamen. I have a mature plant (about 7 years old) and it has been outside since early spring in a spot that gets morning sun. (zone 8-9)

A good plant, in all, but very frost sensative. I put mine out too early this year and, as it's a slow grower, it'll probably take a yea...Read Morer or two to recover. Ah, well.

Also known as Hobbit's Pipe Jade.

It is an erect, sparingly branched succulent. The trumpet shaped leaves are 4-ranked (decussate), smooth and shiny, deep green in color w...Read Moreith very light spotting. No known flowers at this time. Picture to follow at a later time.