Over 200 species of plants belong to the crassula genus, the most popular being the jade! These are chunky succulents as described by the Latin adjective “crassus” meaning “thick”. Most of these species are found in South Africa, as they are lovers of warmth, sunlight, and arid conditions.

A favorite crassula of ours is the Buddha’s temple. It’s a hybrid of crassula perfoliata (the propeller plant) and crassula pyramidalis (mini jade). It features multiple “towers” made up of tiers of layered leaves that grow on top of each other in a mesmerizing geometric column . When looking at a buddha’s temple from above, each tower forms a cool little square that can grow up to 6” tall!

Crassulas like to be watered with the soak and dry method. Set it in water to let the roots soak their fill and then let the soil dry out completely before being watered again. Soak only until you see the water travel upwards and barely start to permeate the top layer of soil. If you soak them for too long, over time, the roots will begin to rot. You’ll generally see Buddha’s temples in very small specimens at plant stores, which leaves little wiggle room for mistakes! Give crassulas lots of bright light and make sure their soil is a well-draining mix suitable for cacti and succulents.