Crassula arborescens subsp. arborescens | Silver jade plant
€15,90
🌱 Morphology
Silver jade plant. A perennial shrubby succulent with an arborescent habit, capable of reaching approximately 1–2 m in height in adult specimens, forming a trunk and thick branches that become lignified with age.
The leaves are opposite and decussate, very fleshy, rounded to broadly obovate, flat or slightly convex, and approximately 3–7 cm long. They have a characteristic bluish-green or silvery-gray coloration due to a layer of pruina (waxy coating), and small reddish dots often appear on the surface. The margin may take on an intense red or maroon hue when it receives plenty of light and there is some water restriction.
This morphology makes it easy to distinguish from Crassula ovata: C. arborescens generally has rounder, glaucous leaves covered in pruina, while C. ovata has greener, shinier, and more oval leaves.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Family Crassulaceae. It is native to South Africa, and its native range is concentrated in the Cape provinces, especially in the dry and rocky environments of the Karoo. Kew classifies it as a succulent shrub or subshrub typical of subtropical environments.
It grows on stony, well-drained terrain where the roots must withstand prolonged periods of drought. The species is adapted to high radiation and soils with low water retention.
❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 9b–11b.
It tolerates relatively low temperatures if it is kept completely dry and with well-aerated roots. Resistance decreases when cold and substrate moisture coincide, especially over prolonged periods.
☀️ Lighting
Intense lighting is recommended, with a target of 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR during the growing period.
High radiation favors compact growth and allows for the development of the characteristic grayish-blue hue and reddish margins. With insufficient light, the internodes elongate, the leaves lose their intensity, and the plant takes on a more open habit.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Summer dormancy. Its distribution in the South African Karoo requires interpreting its cycle based on the climate of its habitat rather than that of a tropical plant. It is active during periods of moderate temperatures and can slow down with both extreme summer heat and intense cold.
During active growth, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. Alternating between complete hydration and total drying is more important than establishing a fixed frequency.
During intense heat, watering should be reduced, especially if the plant stops producing new leaves. In winter, if temperatures are low and the plant remains practically inactive, water intake should also be significantly reduced.
It is not advisable to keep it permanently dry for months if it continues to show growth: the regimen must respond to the physiological state of the plant and the temperature, always avoiding allowing the roots to remain wet for long periods.
🌸 Flowering
In adult specimens, it produces terminal inflorescences, formed by numerous cymes grouped in a rounded structure. The flowers are star-shaped and usually white to pale pink, with prominent stamens and violet-hued anthers.
Flowering is much more frequent in mature specimens grown in high light than in young indoor plants. In the Southern Hemisphere, it may occur from late autumn to winter or spring, depending on the origin and conditions; in Madrid, it is usually observed approximately between November and March, although it can vary considerably with cultivation.
🌿 Nutrition
We recommend Desert CHOICE® Succulents, applied during active growth phases and adjusting the frequency to the temperature and the plant's development.
For adult specimens close to flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering to support the reproductive phase.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:
S -> 9cm x 9cm
M-> 14cm x 14 cm
L->16cm x 16 cm
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because, after all, it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.
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