Jade Plant

Description:

My mum's favorite succulent! We've had these large potted plants since the mid 1980's. They were originally clippings from my grandmother's plants which have been there since at least the 1950's. There were very common in my mum's childhood neighborhood where neighbors often shared plants, food, and pets.

Habitat:

It is originally from the Capetown region of South Africa and was one of the early plants -- along with geraniums -- introduced to Europe by Dutch settlers. In its native habitat the jade plant will grow to 10 feet tall with leg-like branches and a torso size trunk. Its succulent jade-green leaves are oval and as thick as a quarter of an inch.

Notes:

The Khoi and other African tribes ate the roots, they were grated and cooked after which they were eaten with thick milk. The leaves were also used medicinally, boiled in milk as a remedy for diarrhea, and used to treat epilepsy, corns and as a purgative.