Crassula arborescens subsp. undilatifolia - Curly Jade Plant

This subspecies of the luck-bringing Jade Plant is distinguished by its strikingly curved leaves. A succulent, it will be well satisfied with a bright window and soil able to dry between waters. Choose this succulent for its striking silhouette, deep silver-green foliage and the slight definition offered by deep maroon leaf tips and it will reward you with more of its stunning foliage. Over time, as it grows into a small shrub, you may notice its stems become wooded, too, showing a glimpse of how this incredible plant grows in its native South African ground.

Scientific Name
Crassula arborescens subsp. undilatifolia (thick-leaved plant which grows in tree-like shapes, wavy-leaved subspecies)

This subspecies was identified in a 1975 paper and remains an accepted subspecies name.

Common Name(s)
Curly Jade Plant, Ripple Jade, Silver Dollar Jade

Origin
Native to Africa, this plant is found in the rocky, arid Cape Provinces of South Africa.

Light
Crassulas like bright light; this one will prefer to have some direct sun to keep up the maroon colouring at its leaf-tips. A south- or west-facing window will work well, just make sure it's not getting scorched in mid-summer.

Water
Let the soil totally dry out between waters; if the soil is constantly damp this can lead to root rot. This is especially a risk over winter, when the plant is growing less, so you'll need to water even less then.

Humidity
Thrives in low-humidity environments. Make sure you aren't keeping it anywhere especially damp.

Soil
A mix with added sand, grit or perlite will work well for this Crassula; look for one designed for cacti and succulents. Repot every few years as the plant grows, and make sure your pot has drainage holes to help the soil to drain properly.

Food
Feed every couple of months in the spring/summer growing season. A diluted houseplant or cactus & succulent feed will work well. Feeding over winter is not necessary as the plant will be growing much less.

Temperature
Your Crassula's ideal temperature is 15-26°C; make sure it does not get colder than 12°C in winter.

Pet-safe
No, this plant is toxic to pets and small humans.

Sprouts Top Tips
The red tips on the leaves become more vibrant with brighter light exposure, so keep it on a bright windowledge if you like the eyecatching colour.
Make sure you leave enough time for the soil to dry between waters - you can check with a wooden chopstick or skewer that the soil in the centre has dried.
The powdery white on the foliage of this plant is a kind of natural sunscreen, so try not to rub this off by handling the foliage too much.