Jade plants have thick, shiny green leaves that look like smooth little stones or tiny green coins! The leaves are so full of water inside that they feel firm, heavy, and a little bit squishy. Jade plants originally come from South Africa, where it is very hot and dry, so they learned to store water in their chubby leaves to survive without rain for a long time. A jade plant can live for a very, very long time. Some jade plants have been alive for over 100 years, which means a jade plant could be older than your great-great-grandparents!
Many people keep jade plants in their homes because they are super easy to take care of and stay green all year round. In some countries, people call the jade plant the “money tree” or “lucky plant” because they believe it brings good luck and happiness to the family! If a leaf falls off a jade plant and lands on some soil, it can actually grow roots and become a whole new plant all by itself. Jade plants can also grow tiny, star-shaped white or pink flowers when they get enough sunlight. Even though jade plants grow slowly, they can eventually become as big as a small tree if you take good care of them!
