The "Trailing Jade" is an interesting succulent plant with a prostrate and spreading growth habit. Senecio jacobsenii looks great trailing over the edge of a hanging basket, but it also looks very pretty in succulent dish gardens and mixed containers. Trailing Jade prefers a sun to partial shade location, is extremely drought tolerant, and requires less moisture during winter. In the warmer months the foliage retains a grayish-green hue, but during cooler weather the leaf edges are blushed with an attractive purple shade. This plant is often confused with and mistaken for the "Jade Tree" (Crassula ovata) and indeed does have a very similar appearance.

I live in a very humid climate and grow this plant in both a hanging basket as well as a dish garden, but I have to watch my watering carefully so that it doesn't rot from too much moisture. During rainy weather I move the succulents up against the side of the house under the protection of the eaves, or if we have heavy, blowing rain I move them to the screened porch for additional protection.

Reply to this comment