Scientific Name
Crassula arborescens (Mill.) Willd.
Common Name(s)
Silver Dollar, Silver Dollar Plant, Silver Dollar Jade, Silver Jade Plant, Chinese Jade, Tree Crassula, Beestebul, Money Plant, Round-Leaved Crassula
Synonym(s)
Cotyledon arborescens, Crassula arborescens subsp. arborescens
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
The specific epithet "arborescens" (pronounced "ar-bo-RES-senz") means "becoming a tree; tree-like" and refers to the growth habit of this species.
Origin
Crassula arborescens is endemic to South Africa (Eastern Cape, Western Cape).
Description
Crassula arborescens is a succulent shrub or small tree with erect, much-branched stems and egg-shaped to disk-shaped leaves covered with a grey bloom and horny, often purplish margins. It can grow up to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall. The leaves have reddish spots on the upper surface, measuring up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long and 1.2 inches (3 cm) wide.
The star-shaped flowers are white to pink and appear in terminal clusters from spring to summer.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25°F (-3.9°C) to 50°F (10°C).
How to Grow and Care
Crassulas are easy to grow but susceptible to mealybugs and fungal diseases. As with all succulents, overwatering is fatal, so err on the side of too dry rather than too wet. Never let your plant sit in water. If you water from beneath by allowing the plant to sit in a saucer, pour off any excess water after a few minutes.
These succulents are generally started by division, offsets, or leaf cuttings. Crassulas can be easily propagated from a single leaf. Place leaves into a potting mix for succulents and cover the pot until they sprout.
Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot your Crassula, ensure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, removing any rotted or dead roots. Treat any cuts with a fungicide. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting soil, spreading the roots as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Crassula.
Subspecies and Hybrids
Links
- Back to genus Crassula
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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