Plate No. 45
Silver Dollar Jade
Crassula arborescens
"A tree hung with silver coins"
Native to
Western Cape, South Africa
History
A brief account
Silver Dollar Jade is a handsome, sculptural succulent with perfectly round, silvery blue-grey leaves that give it a cool, metallic presence. A close relative of the common jade plant, it is valued not only for its foliage but also for the thickened trunk that can develop over time, giving it a bonsai-like character. In autumn it may produce starry white or pink flowers, adding a delicate seasonal note to its already striking form. Its calm colour palette and graceful structure make it a favorite for bright, contemporary spaces.
How to care for
Place Silver Dollar Jade according to its light needs: Bright direct sun. For watering, soak and dry; more sparingly than jade. For the potting medium, use gritty succulent mix. Good drainage is essential: let surplus water escape freely and never leave the roots standing in a wet saucer.
5–30°C. Frost-tender. Check the compost before watering instead of following a rigid calendar, since light, temperature, pot size and season all affect how quickly it dries. During slower growth, reduce watering and wait longer between drinks.
How to propagate
Leaf and stem cuttings root with ease. Propagation is most reliable during the plant's active growing season, when warmth and good light help new roots establish. Start with clean tools and healthy material, and keep the new plant in conditions appropriate for the parent.
Where a cutting or division creates a wound, allow the surface to dry before planting unless the method calls for immediate rooting in water or moist mix. Once roots form and fresh growth appears, gradually move the young Silver Dollar Jade into its normal watering routine; excess moisture is especially risky while the root system is still small.
Cultivation
Quick tips for care & planting
- Light
- Bright direct sun.
- Water
- Soak and dry; more sparingly than jade.
- Soil
- Gritty succulent mix.
- Temperature
- 5–30°C. Frost-tender.
- Propagation
- Leaf and stem cuttings root with ease.