[2] Much of its popularity stems from the low levels of care needed; the jade plant requires little water and can survive in most indoor conditions.

Some varieties may develop a red tinge on the edges of leaves when exposed to high levels of sunlight.

[citation needed] It grows as an upright, rounded, thick-stemmed, strongly branched shrub and reaches stature heights of up to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft).

Although becoming brown and appearing woody with age, stems never become true lignified tissue, remaining succulent and fleshy throughout the plant's life.

Numerous varieties and cultivars have been selected, of which C. ovata 'Hummel's Sunset' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

The combination of shorter days, cold nights and lack of water for several weeks will produce flowering around the beginning of winter.

[citation needed] As a succulent, Crassula ovata requires little water in the summer and even less in the winter.

It requires four to six hours of direct sun or medium shade exposures with bright light per day.

This is caused by the jade plant making pigments such as carotenoids to protect it from harsh sunlight and ultraviolet rays.

[citation needed] Like many succulents jade plants can be propagated from just the swollen leaves, which grow in pairs on the stems.

[7] Scale insects are common pests of Crassula ovata and can cause deformation of the plant during growth.

An infestation can be eliminated by killing each insect with a cotton bud or brush that has been soaked in rubbing alcohol.