Scientific Name
Crassula ovata 'Tricolor'
Common Name(s)
Tricolor Jade, Variegated Dollar Plant, Variegated Money Tree, Variegated Jade Plant, Variegated Jade Tree
Synonym(s)
Crassula argentea f. variegata, Crassula ovata 'Lemon & Lime', Crassula ovata 'Obliqua Variegata', Crassula ovata 'Tricolor Jade', Crassula ovata 'Variegata'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Origin
Crassula ovata 'Tricolor' is a variegated cultivar of Crassula ovata. The origin is unknown.
Description
Crassula ovata 'Tricolor', also known as Crassula ovata 'Lemon & Lime', is a beautiful succulent shrub with attractive, green leaves with creamy-white or pale yellow markings. It usually grows over 1 foot (30 cm) tall. The leaves are thick and fleshy and can measure up to 2 inches (5 cm) long. In bright sunlight, they get flushes of pink.
From late winter to early spring, the white, star-shaped flowers with pink overtones appear in showy clusters at the ends of the branches.
How to Grow and Care for Crassula ovata 'Tricolor'
Light: C. ovata 'Tricolor' prefers full sun to partial shade. However, intense afternoon sun in the hottest period of summer can burn the leaves of the plant. Therefore, a place with morning sun and afternoon shade would be perfect. Indoors, place your plants in a window where they receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Soil: This plant is not particular about soil pH but requires very porous soil with excellent drainage. You can use commercial potting soil mixes designated for succulents or mix your own.
Hardiness: Like most Crassulas, this succulent will tolerate short-term freezing, but extremes of cold or heat will cause it to lose leaves and die. C. ovata 'Tricolor' can withstand temperatures as low as 30°F to 50°F (-1.1°C to 10°C), USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b.
Watering: Avoid overwatering using the "soak and dry" method, in which the soil is soaked with water, slowly drained, and left to dry out before watering again. Reduce watering in winter. Potted plants require more frequent watering than those in the ground.
Fertilizing: C. ovata 'Tricolor' does not need much feeding, but will benefit from a small amount of organic fertilizer in mid-spring when it starts actively growing.
Repotting: Repot as needed, preferably in spring, at the beginning of the active growth period. Make sure the soil is dry before you begin repotting.
Propagation: This succulent is generally started by leaves or stem cuttings. It can also be grown from seeds and offsets. The easiest way is to propagate C. ovata 'Tricolor' from a single leaf, while using stem cuttings is the fastest way to get a decent-sized plant. These processes are most successful at the beginning of their active growth period. Sow the seeds in the spring or summer. Propagating by dividing offsets is easy because the parent plant has already done most of the work for you.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for a Jade Plant.
Toxicity of Crassula ovata 'Tricolor'
Despite its beauty, C. ovata 'Tricolor' is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses and mildly toxic to humans.
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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