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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Pink |
| Bloomtime: Fall |
| Synonyms: [C.argentea, C.portulacea. 'Crosby's Compact'] |
| Height: 3-5 feet |
| Width: 4-5 feet |
| Exposure: Light Shade/Part Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): No Irrigation required |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Crassula ovata 'Crosby's Dwarf' (Red Dwarf Jade Plant) A much branched slow growing succulent shrub to 2 to 3 feet tall with thick stems that hold 1/2 to 1 inch long obovate leaves that are green with red margins and new leaves that can be suffused entirely with red tones. The white star-like flowers appear in clusters within at the tips of the foliage in late fall through winter. Plant in part to full sun (best color in the brightest light) in a well drained soil and irrigate occasionally, infrequently to nearly not at all - dislikes wet feet in winter but otherwise can be irrigated or not other times of the year. Not cold hardy for prolonged periods below 30° F but can survive short durations of temperatures to 25°F and makes a good container plant for areas with cold winters as plant can be brought inside and not irrigated during winter months. This is an excellent small shrub that requires very little irrigation to look great and when grown in bright light the foliage takes on several shades of red from deep maroon to warm red, which makes this plant reminiscent of some of the colorful new cultivars of New Zealand Mirror Plant (Coprosma), only with less need for summer irrigation. The genus Crassula was a name Linnaean name first used in 1753 and comes from the Latin word 'crassus' meaning "thick" that refers to the thick plump leaves of many of the genus. The specific epithet comes the ovate leaves but this species has in the past been called Crassula portulacea and C. argentea. The common names for the species include jade plant, friendship tree, lucky plant, or money tree. This plant was one of many selected in the 1960s by Ed Hummel and Franklin (Frank) D. Crosby from plants growing at his Cactus Ranch nursery in Malibu where he grew large quantities of jade plants for the east coast house plant market. This particular plant came from the collection of Stockton, CA succulent collector Alice Waidhofer, who purchased it under this name from Rick Nowakowski's Nature's Curiosity Shop in 1994. This plant in our nursery at 21 years old was only 2 feet tall by and equal width. Other names that may be synonymous with 'Crosby's Dwarf' or are similarly compact reddish clones are called C. ovata (dwarf form), 'Crosby's Compact' and 'Crosby's Red' and we also grow a greener form of this plant that is just called 'Crosby'. Frank Crosby was also known for another jade plant selection 'Crosby's Pink' and an Aloe hybrid called 'Crosby's Prolific'. We grow several other Crassula ovata cultivars, including 'Big Alice', 'Gollum', 'Hummel's Sunset' and 'Pink Beauty'.
The information about Crassula ovata 'Crosby's Dwarf' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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