Crassula ovata

‘Ladyfingers’ & ‘Gollum’

KRASS-oo-la oh-VAY-tuh

Synonyms of Crassula ovata (9) (Updated on 12-14-23 from Plants of the World Online): Cotyledon lutea Lam., Cotyledon ovata Mill., Crassula argentea Thunb., Crassula articulata Zuccagni, Crassula lucens Gram, Crassula nitida Schönland, Crassula obliqua Aiton, Crassula portulacea Lam., Toelkenia ovata (Mill.) P.V.Heath

Crassula ovata (Mill.) Druce is the accepted scientific name of this species of Jade Plant. It was first described as such by George Claridge Druce in the Botanical Society and Exchange Club of the British Isles in 1917. It was FIRST named Cotyledon ovata by Philip Miller and described in Gardener’s Dictionary, 8th Edition, in 1768.

The genus, Crassula L., was named and described as such by Carl von Linnaeus in the first volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

As of 12-14-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online by Kew lists 211 species in the Crassula genus. It is a member of the plant family Crassulaceae with 36 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

I bought this plant from Lowe’s on August 25, 2012, in Greenville, Mississippi. The label said Jade Plant ‘Gollum’ on the first line and Crassula argentea on the second line.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING.

When I was directed to Margrit Bischofberger of the International Crassulaceae Network for a plant ID, she informed me that this plant was actually Crassula ovata ‘Ladyfingers’ and not Crassula argentea ‘Gollum’. I had been using The Plant List but I hadn’t noticed the name change. She directed me to a page on her website about the Tolkien Group by Roy Mottram. This link below will take you to the Crassula ovata page on the International Crassulaceae website. Scroll down and click on “Tolkien Group” or “Crassula ovata Tolkien Group by Roy Mottram” if you want some further reading.

International Crassulaceae Network-Crassula ovata

The article by Roy Mottram explains the reason the leaves are cylindrical instead of flat…  I hope you take the time to read it yourself. It is pretty interesting.

Margrit was right judging from the photos. My Crassula argentea ‘Gollum’ was, in fact, Crassula ovata ‘Ladyfingers’. The leaves of Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ appear to be shorter and somewhat fatter.

<<<<2013>>>>

When I moved to Missouri in February 2013, of course, I brought this plant with me. It started growing really well once the weather warmed up so I could move my plants outside.

There are several mutations of Crassula ovata that have taken on similar leaf shapes. According to the article by Roy Mottram (see link above), it is likely caused by a mycoplasma which are immobile bacteria with no cell walls. The bacteria causes the leaves to inroll and infuse together. The leaf tips appear to be “sunk in”.

Some say it is possibly a hybrid but that doesn’t explain the leaf shape.

The mutations are said to grow to a smaller size than the normal Crassula ovata.  

Crassula ovata are very popular subjects for bonsai. They respond very well when the pruning is done correctly making them popular for beginners. 

I moved most of the succulents to a table in my bedroom when cooler temps arrived in October. Most did very well although some stretched somewhat.

<<<<2014>>>>

I moved the plants back outside to the area behind the shed when the temps warmed up enough. They were all happy to get back in the fresh air.

Crassula ovata are very easy plants to grow. They need very well-draining soil and do well in the ground in certain parts of the country. They are very easy to grow as potted plants as long as the soil is well-drained. It is recommended cactus and succulents be in a mixture of 2 parts potting soil with 1 part grit and 1 part pumice or perlite. You can experiment because I have found the Crassula ovata is not all that particular. As long as the potting soil is very well-draining they should be fine. Pumice can take the place of both grit and perlite, so you can mix it about 50/50 with your potting soil if you like (which already had perlite anyway).

They appreciate regular watering during their main growing periods and sparsely during the winter. Their soil should dry between watering. When their leaves start to get a little wrinkly, they need a little water.

They like bright light but do fine in light shade. Mine always get a little morning sun and filtered light the rest of the day.

My Crassula ‘Ladyfingers’ did very well and it was very easy to get attached. I suppose it sounds a little weird to get attached to plants, but I get attached to most of mine.

Regretfully, I gave most of my plants up in the summer of 2014 including this one.

<<<<2018>>>>

I found this Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ from the Amish country store on May 5, 2018. My sister and niece came down to go some plant shopping at the four local Amish greenhouses and luckily I decided to stop at one of their stores. This was the only one they had so I grabbed it.

It wasn’t mislabeled like the first one because there was no label at all. I was hoping it was another ‘Lady Fingers’, but I think it is ‘Gollum’. At first, it did look like a ‘Lady Fingers’ but as it grew it looked more ‘Gollum’. So I had to change the captions…

One day I saw a couple carrying a pot with a plant like this and I said, “Oh, I see you have a Crassula ovata ‘Ladyfingers'”. They replied, “No, the tag says Crassula ‘Gollum'”.  🙂 Hmmm… It can be hard to tell the two apart at a glance.

The Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ in a new and larger pot on June 24.

I moved most of my potted plants to the front porch on July 4 because of a Japanese Beetle invasion. They ate the leaves of the Chinese Elm tree the potted plants were under and started sampling a few of the plants.

I moved the potted plants inside on October 10 because the weather forecast was predicting an “F”.

<<<<2019>>>>

I moved the plants back outside when nighttime temperatures stayed warm enough. They were glad to get outside in the fresh air.

The Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ did very well during the summer on the front porch. There was an “F” in the forecast so I had to move the plants inside for the winter on October 11. I always photograph all the potted plants as I bring them inside and measure the cactus and some of the succulents. This plant measured 7 1/2″ tall x 9 1/4″ wide.

<<<<2020>>>>

The Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ did very well during the summer despite a little neglect. I had to bring the plants inside on October 15 because an “F was in the forecast. It measured 8 1/2″ tall x 9 1/2″ wide which is an inch taller and 1/4” wider than a year ago.

<<<<2021>>>>

The Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ is doing very well and has grown to 9 3/4″ tall x 9 1/2″ wide. I decided to take photos and write a post about the plants on August 17, so I just took measurements at the same time. Normally I take photos and measurements in October when I bring the plants inside for the winter.

<<<<2022>>>>

I had to bring the potted plants inside for the winter on October 16 in 2022 because a “you know what” was in the forecast. The Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ did very well as always and had grown to 10 1/2″ tall x 10″ wide.

During the winter I sometimes neglect the cactus and succulents and this plant had a bout with brown scale. That is pretty normal with Crassula ovata and they are fairly easy to remove with your fingernail. I sprayed occasionally with GardenSafe Fungicide 3 (fungicide, insecticide, and miticide). It is OMRI listed and it doesn’t seem to harm most succulents.

<<<<2023>>>>

Even though there was no “F” in the forecast until October 30, it was going to be a rainy week so I moved the potted plants inside on the 23rd and 24th. Time for photos and measurements… 

The Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ did very well during the summer on the front porch. It measured 10 1/2” tall x 12” wide when I moved it inside for the winter. 

I will continue adding more photos and information as time goes by.

I hope you enjoyed this page and maybe found it useful. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, I would like to hear from you. Please click on “like” if you visited this page. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. 🙂 You can check out the links below for further reading. The links take you directly to the genus and species of this plant.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
LLIFLE (ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LIVING FORMS)
INTERNATIONAL CRASSULACEAE NETWORK
HOUSE PLANTS EXPERT
THE SUCCULENT PLANT PAGE
GARDEN