- Mature height
- 60cm to 1m
- Mature width
- 60cm to 1m
Crassula ovata 'Gollum' is the tubular leaved form of the Jade Plant, an evergreen succulent with green, finger like leaves that open into a small cup at the tip. Sun brings red colouring to those tips. The plant branches freely into a compact, textured mound, with white star flowers in winter.
Grow it in full sun to part shade with sharp drainage, using a cactus and succulent mix in pots. Growth is 10 to 25 centimetres a year. Water deeply but rarely once it is settled. It is frost sensitive, so in cold districts keep it under cover or in a pot that can be shifted.
It works in containers, courtyards, rockeries and low water garden beds where leaf texture carries the planting. It also holds up indoors near a bright window. Landscapers pair it with gravel mulch and darker foliage so the shape of each individual leaf stays easy to read.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Crassula ovata 'Gollum'
What is Crassula ovata 'Gollum'?
It is the tubular leaved form of the Jade Plant, an evergreen succulent with green finger like leaves that open into a small cup at the tip. Sun brings red colouring to those tips. It branches freely into a compact, textured mound and produces white star flowers in winter and early spring.
How big does it grow?
About 1 metre tall and 80 centimetres wide in the ground after many years, and noticeably less in a pot. Growth runs at 10 to 25 centimetres a year. The plant thickens rather than stretches, so mature specimens are dense and well branched rather than leggy and open.
Does it need sun or shade?
Full sun to part shade both work. Full sun gives tighter growth and the red leaf tips the cultivar is grown for, while part shade keeps the foliage plain green and a little softer. Deep shade leads to stretched, weak stems that flop, so give it at least half a day of light.
Can it grow indoors?
Yes, provided it sits near a bright window with several hours of direct light. Indoors it grows slowly and needs far less water, perhaps every two to three weeks in summer and monthly in winter. Turn the pot occasionally so it grows evenly, and move it outside for a spell in warm weather.
Is it frost tolerant?
No. Like other Crassula ovata forms it is frost sensitive, and the swollen leaves mark badly after a cold night. Keep it in frost free positions, under eaves, or in a container that can be moved. Cold wet soil through winter causes more losses than the frost itself does.
When does it flower?
Winter into early spring, around June to September, once the plant is a few years old. The flowers are small white to pale pink stars in clusters at the branch tips. A dry, cool autumn and a sunny position make flowering more likely; heavily watered plants often skip it altogether.
How do I care for Crassula ovata 'Gollum'?
Water deeply and then leave it alone until the soil is dry, cutting right back over winter. Free draining soil or a succulent mix is essential. Feed lightly in spring if it is potted. Prune to shape whenever you like, and treat any mealybug promptly before it settles into the leaf joints.