Plants
Jade Plant
Crassula ovata · Crassulaceae
The jade plant — also called money tree or lucky plant in German — is one of the longest-lived houseplants of all: well cared for, it accompanies its owners for decades, growing into a small tree with a thick trunk. Its round, fleshy leaves resemble coins, hence the name and its reputation as a bringer of luck. Important for pet households: it is toxic to cats and dogs.
- Light
- Full sun to bright; the more light, the more compact the growth.
- Watering
- Sparing — let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Crassula ovata
Crassula ovata naturally grows like a bonsai: a woody trunk, a compact crown, thick fleshy leaves. Besides the green standard form there are cultivars such as ‚Hobbit‘ and ‚Gollum‘ with tubular, rolled leaves, and ‚Minor‘ as a compact selection. In plenty of sun the leaf edges turn a decorative red — a sign of a good spot, not a deficiency.
As a succulent the jade plant stores water in leaves and trunk and easily copes with longer watering breaks. Conversely, waterlogging is its only real enemy: soft, yellow, dropping leaves almost always signal too much water, not too little.
Old specimens in sunny spots flower in winter with a haze of white to pale pink star-shaped blooms. The trigger is a cool, bright winter position around 10 to 15 degrees with very sparing watering — in a warm living room it usually will not flower, though that does the plant no harm.
For housewarmings, business openings or a new job the jade plant is a perennial favourite with us: it carries a good message, needs almost no care and grows along symbolically. If you like, move it to a balcony or terrace in summer — it rewards the fresh air with compact, sturdy growth.
Propagation is astonishingly easy: a single leaf or small cutting, dried off for a few days and laid on succulent soil, roots almost every time. That way offspring of the family jade plant can be raised for the next generation without fuss.
Is Jade Plant toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Mildly irritating
- Cats
- Toxic
- Dogs
- Toxic
The jade plant is toxic to cats and dogs and should be kept out of reach or avoided in pet households. In children, nibbling the leaves can cause stomach upset.
Typical symptoms: In pets after ingestion: vomiting, lethargy, incoordination, occasionally a slowed heart rate. Seek veterinary advice if ingestion is suspected.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Give it as much sun as possible — a south window or a summer spot outdoors is ideal.
- 02Water sparingly: let the soil dry out completely, keep almost dry in winter.
- 03Overwinter cool (10–15 degrees) if you want it to flower.
- 04Use free-draining cactus or succulent soil and avoid heavy potting compost.
- 05Feed lightly once a month from spring to late summer.
- 06Thin out a heavy crown occasionally so the tree does not become top-heavy and tip over.
Frequently asked
- Is the jade plant toxic to cats and dogs?
- Yes. The jade plant appears on the standard pet toxicity lists; after ingestion vomiting, lethargy and incoordination can occur. In households with nibble-happy cats we recommend non-toxic succulents such as haworthia or echeveria instead.
- Why is my jade plant dropping leaves?
- Soft, yellowish leaves that drop almost always point to overwatering and incipient root rot — pause watering and check the substrate. Wrinkled, leathery leaves indicate genuine thirst. Sudden leaf drop after moving the plant is usually just relocation stress and passes.
- When and how does a jade plant flower?
- Only older plants from around ten years flower. They bloom in winter with small white to pale pink stars, provided they spent the winter bright, cool (10–15 degrees) and almost dry, ideally after a summer outdoors. Kept warm all year they usually will not flower.
- How do I propagate a jade plant?
- Easiest via leaf or stem cuttings: cut, let dry for two to three days, then lay or stick into slightly moist succulent soil. Roots form within a few weeks. Letting the cut surface callus first matters — otherwise the cutting rots.