Plant Bio

Originally from the dry regions of South Africa, the Dwarf Jade Afra is a fleshy, soft, woody small tree that grows up to 3m (10ft.) It has a thick trunk, but a fine branch structure with thick green oval-shaped succulent leaves.

The Jade is considered an indoor tree in most temperate zones, although it can be grown outdoors in full sun and high temperatures. Do not let temperatures drop below 40 °F (5 °C). It requires substantial light, full sun if possible, especially when kept indoors. You’ll know if your Jade tree is getting enough sunlight when it’s leaves develop red tips or edges.

Jade trees can hold large amounts of water inside their leaves, so water sparsely and allow the plant to dry out a little between watering. If the tree is kept relatively cold during winter months, watering can be done as seldom as once every three weeks. Monitor your tree closely and water the moment the soil dries out slightly. The Jade Bonsai is not as particular about over-watering as most other succulents.

Fertilize your Jade tree once a month, spring through autumn, during the growth season. Any normal fertilizer, as described in our fertilize section, should be fine.

During autumn months it occasionally blossoms white flowers, but only if there have been droughts in the season. The bark is green and soft when it’s young, and it transitions into a red-brown color as it ages. The Dwarf Jade (Portulacaria afra, or Elephant bush) is very similar to the Jade (Crassula ovata) and the same care guidelines apply to both species. As the name suggests, the Dwarf Jade has smaller leaves which makes it more suitable for Bonsai cultivation.