Crassula Ovata Hobbit
Crassula ovata 'Hobbit'
📖 About this plant
Crassula ovata ‘Hobbit’ is a whimsical and highly popular cultivar of the Jade Plant that features tubular, trumpet-shaped leaves that curl back at the tips with reddish margins. The unusual leaf shape is said to resemble the ears of a hobbit, giving this plant its enchanting name. The bright green leaves develop deeper red coloring along the edges and tips when grown in full sun or cool temperatures. It can develop into a substantial shrub over many years, with a thick trunk-like stem giving it a bonsai-like appearance. It’s more compact and slower-growing than the standard Jade Plant, making it ideal for smaller spaces and indoor cultivation.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright Indirect Light to Full Sun
When soil is completely dry (every 2-3 weeks)
30-50%
15-27°C (60-80°F)
Well-draining succulent/cactus mix with perlite
Diluted succulent fertilizer 2-3 times during growing season
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- South Africa (cultivar of Crassula ovata)
- 📏 Max height
- 30-60 cm (12-24 in) tall
- 📐 Spread
- 20-30 cm (8-12 in) wide
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Late autumn to winter (mature plants, requires cool autumn)
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Small star-shaped white to pale pink flowers in clusters
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Bright green tubular leaves curled back at the tips with red margins, resembling hobbit ears or coral
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial (10-50+ years)
- 📈 Growth rate
- Slow to Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Toxic to cats and dogs — can cause vomiting, depression, and incoordination if ingested
- 🌱 Propagation
- Leaf cuttings or stem cuttings; allow callus 2-3 days before planting
🛡️ Health & Safety
Toxic to cats and dogs — can cause vomiting, depression, and incoordination if ingested
Common issues
- Leaf shriveling from underwatering, root rot from overwatering, mealybugs on stems and leaf axils, dropping leaves from sudden temperature changes or overwatering, etiolation in low light, not blooming without cool autumn conditions
💡 Care tips
- This variety is more compact than standard Jade Plant, making it better suited for indoor growing. The tubular leaves and red edges are most pronounced in full sun. Like Jade Plant, it can live for decades and develop a beautiful bonsai-like trunk. Reduce watering significantly in winter. Cool autumn temperatures (below 10°C/50°F) for several weeks help trigger winter blooms. Excellent longevity — can become a family heirloom plant passed down through generations.
