This Crassula cultivar really stands out thanks to its distinctive, elongated, tubular leaves. The mid-green leaves reach upwards from every stem of this plant like glossy green fingers. In a sunny spot, they gain a touch of red colour at their tips, and when they get bigger their stem becomes a wooded trunk. Each leaf grows as a tube, making this coral-like shrub a truly standout variety and a fabulous addition to any collection.
Scientific Name
Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ (thick-leaved plant with egg-shaped leaves, cultivar: Gollum)
Synonyms: Toelkenia ovata, Cotyledon lutea, Cotyledon ovata, Crassula argentea, Crassula articulata, Crassula lucens, Crassula nitida, Crassula obliqua, Crassula portulacea
Originally described as Cotyledon ovata in 1768, this plant was identified as part of the Crassula genus in a 1917 paper, which classified it as Crassula ovata.
Common Name(s)
Gollum Jade, Trumpet Jade, ET's Fingers, Hobbit's Pipe Jade, Shrek's Ears, Coral Jade, Money Plant, Jade Plant
Origin
Southern Africa, (arid areas, especially the Cape Provinces of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
Light
Crassulas like bright light; this one will prefer to have some direct sun to keep up the red 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
Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. It needs a big soak when you water, and plenty of time to dry out in between as soil that stays soggy risks root rot. During winter, leave longer between waters.
Humidity
This plant is adapted to dry conditions. Don't keep it anywhere damp, like a bathroom, as it could struggle.
Soil
Use a well-draining cactus or succulent potting mix, or one with added grit, sand or perlite. Ensure the pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. Repot every 2-3 years in spring as the plant grows.
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
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.
Did You Know?
The ‘Gollum’ cultivar was named for its unusual, tubular foliage, which resembles the fingers of the character Gollum, from The Lord of the Rings. It is a close relative of Crassula ovata ‘Hobbit’.
