Plant Care Library

Other Names:  Weeping Jade

Description:

This variety resembles the Crassula Jades, but is unrelated; spoon-shaped green leaves stand erect on their trailing stems, that creep along or cascade from hanging pots; leaves flush lilac in bright light or cold; a great accent plant

Ornamental Features

Trailing Jade's attractive succulent oval leaves emerge chartreuse in spring, turning green in color with showy lilac purple variegation the rest of the year on a plant with a spreading habit of growth. It features showy panicles of lightly-scented orange frilly flowers held atop the stems from late fall to mid winter. The gray stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.

Landscape Attributes

Trailing Jade is an herbaceous annual with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Trailing Jade is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting
• Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

Trailing Jade will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 8 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 4 feet. Although it's not a true annual, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.

Trailing Jade is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.