Fissured or Wrinkled
Fissured bark forms long narrow divisions causing separations. Wrinkled bark generally has smooth folded appearance that may be warty.
Upright-bushy
When a plant has an upright habit with intricate branching (bushy) and may have multiple stems.This upright succulent shrub has thick trunk with grey bark and short rounded branches forming a domed crown. It has fleshy glossy green rounded leaves and the small pink saucer-shaped flowers appear in dense clusters during summer.
Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq. is naturally found from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Namibia to Mozambique in South Africa growing on rocky slopes and hillsides amongst thickets and along dry river valleys from sea level to an altitude of 1,300 m (4.265 ft). It prefers a dry-moist, well drained poor to moderately fertile light sandy-stony soil that is acidic to alkaline with a pH range from 5.5 to 7.5 but is adaptable. It grows in an open to exposes sunny position and is frost tender but drought-heat tolerant.
The Jade Plant is commonly grown for its attractive tree-like habit and its succulent foliage. It is planted in small to medium size gardens as a specimen along borders or used in a sunny rockery. It is also used as a potted specimen or grown on roof gardens. In cold climates it is used as an indoor plant or a glasshouse specimen when the temperature drops below 10º C (50º F). It tolerates neglect and establishes from a cutting in 2 to 3 years responding well to fertile soil. Once established it has a low water requirement (Scale: 1-drop from 3) preferring moist to dry sandy soil and will tolerate prolonged hot dry periods.
I.D. 1159
UK hardiness zone H1c
Climate zones 8, 9, 12-24
USDA Zone 9-11
Portulacaria (port'-yoo-la-KAHR-ee-a) afra (AF-ra)
Etymology
Genus: Latin - Portulacaria from ‘portulaca’ meaning (Portulaca) and ‘aria’ meaning (origin) – referring to the similarity to the genus Portulaca
Species: - afra – referring to the origin of the plant, (Africa)
Cultivars
'Foliisvariegatus'
This plant has yellow mottled leaves.
'Tricolor'
This plant has leaves with green, cream and pink tones.
'Variegata'
This plant has green leaves with a cream margin.
Portulacaceae (PAW-tew-LAK-AY-see-ee)
Parakelias
Distribution
This family of plants is mainly found in the southern hemisphere with a few species in the northern hemisphere and consists of succulent herbs.
Diagnostic Features
The simple thickish leaves are arranged alternately, oppositely or spirally with an entire margin and may have stipules that are scarious or split into hairs.
The regular flowers are bisexual and have 2 sepals and 4 to 6 petals that are imbricate. Each flower has a long peduncle and are arranged in a cyme or are solitary. They have 3 stamens that may be overlapping, varying in size and may be fused at the base. The ovary is superior or half superior and has 1-locular each with several ovules, sometimes one with a free central or basal placenta. There are 2 - 3 stigma, and they may be fused at the base to form a short style.
The fruit is a capsule.
Note:
Some species are grown as ornamentals, others become weedy. There are 580 species worldwide with 10 genera with 58 species and 6 genera found in Australia.
This plant tolerates between USDA zones 9a to 11a and grows to 5 m (15 ft)
Fahrenheit 20º to 45º F
These temperatures represent the lowest average.
Celsius -6.6º to 7.2º C
Attention
This plant was last revised on the 08/04/2019
All photographs and data are covered by copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, reference or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part including images and text may be reproduced by any means without written permission. The information presented in the map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions. All inquiries should be addressed to sales@plantfile.com attention Peter Kirkland.
Simple
The leaf that is not divided.
Obovate
A leaf that is broadest at the apex tapering towards the base.
Opposite
Leaves that are arranged opposite to each other.
Entire
A leaf margin with no irregularities (smooth).
Crateriform
A saucer shaped hollow.
Cyme
Flowers that are both solitary and branching into solitary.| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
The tiny pale rosy-pink crateriform flowers have 5-obovate-oblong petals and a slender pedicle up to 5 mm (¼ in) long. They are arranged in a terminal or axillary cyme in fascicles that is held just above the foliage on the upper branches during summer.
Capsule
A dried dehiscent fruit, with an enclosing membrane normally containing may seeds."| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
The small 5 mm (¼ in) long 3 angled, winged pendant capsule opens from the top. It is glossy translucent pink and contains tear-shaped seeds up to 2 mm (1/13 in) long. The seeds are viable but the plant is normally reproduced vegetatively.
The Jade Plant is commonly grown for its attractive tree-like habit and its succulent foliage. It is planted in small to medium size gardens as a specimen along borders or used in a sunny rockery. It is also used as a potted specimen or grown on roof gardens. In cold climates it is used as an indoor plant or a glasshouse specimen when the temperature drops below 10º C (50º F). It tolerates neglect and establishes from a cutting in 2 to 3 years responding well to fertile soil.
Take cuttings during spring to summer apply bottom heat. Do not allow the media to become wet, as the cutting will rot.
Asexual Propagation (Cuttings general)
Propagation from cuttings is possible because every cell of a plant containers the genetic information to create an entire plant.
1. Reproduction occurs through the formation of adventitious roots and shoots.
2. The uniting of vegetative parts with budding and grafting.
3. Taking stem cuttings and layering is possible due to the development of adventitious roots
4. Root cuttings can form new shoots then it is possible to join roots and shoots to form a new plant.
5. A new plant may be formed from a single cell in an aseptic culture system, (cloning).
It is important to propagate vegetatively as this form of cloning retains the unique characteristics of the cultivars or where particular aspects of a plant may be lost if propagated by seed.
Equipment Required for Taking Cuttings
1. A sharp knife that is not too large or a razor mounted in a handle.
2. Good pair of sharp secateurs that is clean.
3. A dibbler to make a hole in the media and allow the cutting to be placed in.
4. Propagation structures that are either a timber frame with glass or polyethylene cover or a glasshouse.
The object of the structure is to create an environment where the temperature and humidity can be controlled. This can be achieved with a simple cover over a pot with a wire frame and plastic.
This stops the draughts and maintains humidity.
5. A hotbed is a useful item as many plants root more quickly if the media is slightly warmer.
Bottom heat is obtained from thermostatically controlled heating cables that are running under the media.
6. Misting systems are of great benefit to cuttings as the regulated fogging with water inhibits the cuttings from drying out and as a result the cuttings may be grown in full sun.
This results in faster root development that is less subject to diseases by fungi and bacteria.
7. Rooting mediums
The rooting medium must be well drained, sand may be used as long as it is thoroughly washed and leached of all salts. It is very well drained and it is excellent for cutting that root up quickly. Equal parts of sand and peat moss have good results for cuttings, which are left for a period of time to allow the roots to form.
Vermiculite and perlite are also used as a well-drained rooting media but has the same disadvantage as sand having no nutrients. The cuttings must be potted up as soon as the roots developed, or a light application of liquid fertiliser can be applied.
Types of Cuttings
Stem cuttings
These are the main types of cuttings.
1. Softwood cuttings
These cuttings are taken from young growth on side shoots and tip growth.
2. Semi hardwood cuttings
These cuttings are taken from wood that is firmer and semi ripe usually during mid summer.
3. Hardwood cuttings
These cuttings are taken from mature wood normally towards the end of the season.
4. Root cuttings
Cut sections of roots to obtain new plants during late winter to early spring.
5. Leaf cuttings
Cut the leaf blade in order to obtain new plants during the growing period of the plant.
Cutting preparation
Hardwood cuttings
When taking hardwood cuttings remove the leaves and in semi hardwood reduce the number of leaves by half. Cut the wood straight across just below a node or joint. Hardwood cuttings are normally between 100 to 760 mm (30 in) long and may have either a heel of the older wood attached to the base, or a short section of the older wood at the base. These cuttings are prepared during the dormant season from late autumn to early spring and are made up from previous season's growth.
This type of cutting is used for woody deciduous plants such as Crepe Myrtle, Rose rootstocks and some fruit trees.
The cuttings should be healthy wood with ample supply of stored food as to nourish developing roots, shoots and placed in the rooting media with the aid of a dibbler stick.
Softwood cuttings
The cuttings for softwood should be 60 to 130 mm (5 1/8 in) long and be of material with enough substance as to not deteriorate before the new roots appear. Cut below a node and retain the leaves on the upper portion. Place in a well-drained media and maintain a high humidity.
Soaking the cuttings and leaving them standing in water for long periods is undesirable.
Herbaceous cuttings
These cuttings are taken from succulent plants such as Geraniums and Coleus. The cutting should be 70 to 130 mm (5 1/8 in) long with leaves retained on the upper end. As in softwood cuttings these require an environment of high humidity. Some fleshy cuttings ooze sap and may require a drying period for a few hours before being placed in the rooting media.
Leaf cutting
In these cuttings a leaf blade and petiole or part off is used to raise a new plant. The original leaf doses not become a part of the new plant as roots and shoots appear from the base of the leaf. In some cases roots appear from the severed veins.
Leaf-Bud cuttings
These cuttings incorporate a leaf, petiole and a small piece of the stem. These cuttings are an advantage where the plant uses the axillary bud at the base of the petiole for new shoot growth and maximises available propagation material, as each node will produce a new plant.
As in softwood cuttings these require an environment with high humidity and warmth.
Root cuttings
These cuttings are best taken from younger plants during late winter to early spring prior the new season's growth unless the dormant period is during summer.
Trim the roots as they are dug up, to maintain polarity cut strength at the crown end and a slanted cut at the distal end (away from the crown).
Root cuttings of small plants are placed in flats in lengths of 20 to 50 mm (2 in) and laying horizontally on the surface of the soil. These may be lightly covered with sieved sand or media, watered and then placing a piece of glass or polyethylene over the container till roots / shoots appear.
Fleshy Root cuttings
These cuttings should be 50 to 75 mm (3 in) long and placed vertically in a well-drained sand media.
Keep the polarity correct and when the roots develop transplant the cuttings into a separate container.
Large Root cuttings
These cuttings are 50 to 150 mm 6 in) long are tied up in bundles and placed in boxes of damp sand, sawdust or peat for about three weeks at a temperature of 4.5º C. When taken out they should be planted in a prepared bed 50 to 80 mm (3 1/8 in) apart with the tops of the cuttings level with or just below the soil level.
Average Lowest Temperature : -3º C 27º F
USDA : 9, 10, 11
This USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) hardiness zone chart can be used to indicate a plant’s ability to withstand average minimum temperatures. However, other factors such as soil type, pH, and moisture, drainage, humidity and exposure to sun and wind will also have a direct effect on your plant’s survival. Use this chart only as a guide, always keep the other factors in mind when deciding where, when and what to plant.
A plant's individual USDA zone can be found in the Plant Overview.
Climate Description
Warm Temperate
This zone has the majority of rain during winter in the west and summer in the east with high humidity. Summer temperatures may peak at 40ºC (104ºF).
Frost and drought mainly occur inland and coastal wind is normally accompanied with rain.
Plant growth
Wide range of native and exotic plants grow well.
| Dictionary | Growth Habit |
| Leaf Type | Botanic Flower Description |
| Leaf Shape | Flower Inflorescence |
| Leaf Arrangement | Fruit Type |
| Leaf Margin | Bark Type |
| Leaf Apex And Bases | Flower Description |
