The Jade may be the only Crassula with which many are familiar, but it is a diverse genus of 200 species. Some Crassulas take quite unusual forms that look nothing like the classic Jade, like this 'Coastal Coral' I found at Garden Avenue in Billings last month. I put it in a 3D-printed pot. Plastic pots do not dry out quickly so I have to be careful not to overwater it.
These two came out of Home Depot bowls a couple months ago and were not identified. I believe the one on the left is a type of 'Gollum' and the other one is 'Ogre Ears.' Comparing this older image with the ones I got yesterday, these are not fast-growing plants. The biggest change is the top half of 'Ogre Ears' was very yellow when I first got it. That started to fade to green after I put it in good light.
At the other end of the growth spectrum, this one doubled in size in the 10 weeks since I acquired it from Ramsey's Succulents, Crassula sarmentosa f. variegata 'Comet,' The leaves are thinner compared to other Crassulas, and it could be used in a hanging basket as a spiller.
Crassula capitella 'Campfire' also is showing growth in recent weeks, but has not developed its trademark bright red coloring yet. This plant dies after flowering (monocarpic, like Sempervivums) so its pups should be propagated. I have one little one that I salvaged out of the original shipping pot from Ramsey's.
Next is Crassula cv. 'Buddha's Temple.' I have two of these, the larger one pictured here (The Next Gardener) and a smaller one I acquired separately (Garden Avenue, Billings) that I stuck in one of the big bowls. This one doesn't do much and is showing some wilting toward the top, so I am uncertain of its future. I may have to dig the little one out of the bowl if this one declines.
Here is Crassula perforata variegata, Variegated 'String of Buttons' from Walmart. I forget about it because I had it stuck in a big bowl for the longest time, but it really is one of the highlights of my group of Crassulas.
Not pictured, Crassula rupestris 'Rosary Plant' (Home Depot) which doesn't look as good as it did three months ago, and Crassula capitella ssp. Thyrsiflora 'Pagoda Village' which was featured in the recent Grow Lights post. Of course I have to end with the classic Jade, of which I have two in real pots and several others propagating in plastic pots and trays. The larger pot (Ace Hardware) has five stalks and I really should divide it. To make room, I should find a good home for my smaller pot (Walmart). Comparing the images, they are not the same shade of green and never have been. The smaller one has always been darker and shows a bit more character. The largest cutting I have came from this pot, so if I dispose of this one I still have the diversity.
My favorite YouTube channel for Jades is Everything Plants, produced by a Canadian dude named Jeff who posts about different types of houseplants but in reality is mostly about Jades. If you are squeamish about pruning your Jade, watch him chop the hell out of his and come out the other side with big plants with thick trunks. Developing a tree-like trunk takes years and I'm a long way from that point.