Ripple Jade

Ripple Jade (Crassula arborescens subsp. undulatifolia) is the jade plant with character: narrow blue grey leaves with wavy margins and a rosy edge where the sun catches them. It builds slowly into a small shrub around 80cm tall and 60cm wide, with a thickening trunk that gives it the look of a natural bonsai. Clusters of small white flowers appear on mature plants in the cooler months.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage does all the work. The rippled blue grey leaves hold their form and colour every day of the year, with no flowering season to wait for.
• It forgives neglect. Drought and heat tolerant and happy in poor soil, so a missed fortnight of watering does no harm.
• Indoors or out. It grows on a bright windowsill as well as in a courtyard pot, which few succulents manage.
• Slow and tidy. Growth is measured rather than rapid, so a plant stays in scale with its pot for years.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A 250mm to 300mm pot with free draining succulent mix suits it for several years. Terracotta helps, because it lets the mix dry between waterings.

Balconies and courtyards. It is salt tolerant and handles reflected heat off walls and paving, so it holds up in the hard conditions of a west facing balcony.

Rockeries and small gardens. Planted between rocks with sharp drainage it forms a low sculptural mound, and the grey foliage sits well against dark stone.

Growing ripple jade in Australia

Position and climate. Bright light is essential. Full sun outdoors, or the brightest window indoors, gives compact growth and rosy leaf edges. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. It is frost tender, so in cool temperate and tableland districts keep it in a pot that can move under cover for winter.

Soil. Sharp drainage above all else. Use a cactus and succulent mix, or garden soil opened up with coarse sand and gravel. Wet soil in winter is the most common cause of losses.

Water and feed. Water only when the mix has dried right through, perhaps fortnightly in summer and monthly in winter. Feed once in early spring with a diluted liquid fertiliser. More water and more feed both cause soft, floppy growth.

Pruning. Pinch or cut back leggy stems in spring to build a fuller shape. Cuttings root easily: let the cut end dry for a few days, then push it into dry mix and water sparingly.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes. The 140mm pack of ten and the 200mm pack of six are young plants, the sensible choice for filling a rockery or a run of pots. The 250mm pack of three and the single 300mm plant are bushier, with the beginnings of a woody trunk.

Succulents travel well, though a leaf or two may drop in transit, which is normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Hold off watering for a few days after arrival, then resume normally. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Ripple jade growing and styling guide
• Browse the full succulent range
• Plants that thrive in containers
• More plants for indoors

Common questions

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

No. Like other jade plants it is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so keep it on a shelf or in a room pets do not use.

Why are the leaves going soft and wrinkled?

Wrinkled leaves usually mean it is too dry, and soft translucent leaves mean too wet. Check the mix before watering, and when in doubt with a jade, wait.

Will it survive a frost?

It is frost tender and cold damage shows as blackened leaf tips. In frosty districts keep it in a pot and move it under an eave or indoors over winter.