Classic Jade (Crassula ovata): A superstar grower whether kept indoors as a potted plant or grown outside as a dense, mounding shrub. Its shiny leaves sprout from thick branches and can flush red at the edges when exposed to direct sun. It is native to South Africa and Mozambique where it grows en masse on rocky slopes, reaching up to 8 feet tall. Indoor growing, small pots, and pruning will keep C. ovata in a small, bonsai size.

Jade is a forgiving grower and makes a great choice for beginners. Just give it a well-draining soil, bright sun, and protection from hard frost. Eventually, mature, outdoor shrubs do not need irrigation at all. You can even observe C. ovata shrink during drought and swell when rehydrated. Jade reproduces readily from cuttings, but plants also produce dense clusters of white, star-shaped blossoms in the winter.

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