Asteraceae
Trailing Jade: Ground Cover Plant
Kleinía petraea
Cultivate in a location with good light, full morning sun and light shade during the hottest hours, in sandy and well-drained substrate. It is extremely drought-tolerant: water only when the soil is completely dry and reduce frequency even further in winter. Ideal for hanging baskets or tall planters where the stems can hang freely.
Every 14 days
Bright indirect
15° - 29°C
30% - 50%
Categories
What is Trailing Jade?
Trailing Jade (Kleinía petraea) is a easy-care plant from the Asteraceae family. Trailing Jade is a creeping and pendulous succulent from the Asteraceae family, native to the rocky regions of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa. Its fleshy, highly branched stems can exceed 3 feet in length, covered with oval, succulent leaves that are green with shades of purple, mauve, or brown a...
Trailing Jade grows up to 20cm, spread of 120cm, watering every 14 days, 15°C – 29°C, 30–50% humidity. It is suitable for indoor environments and not safe for pets.
Unlike many tropical plants, Trailing Jade tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Without precautions, ingestion can cause irritation in pets. Keep out of reach of cats and dogs. Without adequate drainage, root rot can develop within 28 days.
How to Care for Trailing Jade?
TLDR: Trailing Jade needs Bright indirect, watering every 14 days, and temperatures between 15-29°C with 30-50% humidity.
How Often Should You Water Trailing Jade?
Allow the substrate to dry out completely between waterings—during spring and summer, water approximately every 2 weeks, and in fall/winter space it out even more, watering only when the soil is dry several inches below the surface. Overwatering is the primary risk for this succulent.
How Much Light Does Trailing Jade Need?
Prefers bright, indirect light to full sun, but in very hot climates, it benefits from light afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch. Indoors, position it near a well-lit window.
What Is the Best Soil for Trailing Jade?
Use a sandy, fast-draining substrate, such as ready-made cactus and succulent mixes enriched with coarse sand, perlite, or pumice. The pot must have drainage holes to prevent water accumulation around the roots.
What Pot Should You Use for Trailing Jade?
Hanging baskets or elevated planters with multiple drainage holes, allowing the stems to hang freely; prefer terracotta or unglazed ceramic pots, which help the substrate dry out faster.
Care Schedule
Fertilize
Every 365 days
Rotate
Every 30 days
Repot
Every 730 days
What Is Trailing Jade and Where Does It Come From?
Trailing Jade is a creeping and pendulous succulent from the Asteraceae family, native to the rocky regions of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa. Its fleshy, highly branched stems can exceed 3 feet in length, covered with oval, succulent leaves that are green with shades of purple, mauve, or brown along the edges. In fall and winter, it produces upright stalks with tubular orange flowers that lack visible petals, characteristic of the genus. It is often confused with the common Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) due to the appearance of its leaves, although they share no botanical relationship.
How to Propagate Trailing Jade?
Stem Cuttings
Avoid overwatering in the first few weeks—excess moisture before rooting will easily rot the cutting.
- 1 Cut a healthy 3 to 4-inch stem segment with a pair of leaves using clean shears.
- 2 Allow the cut end to callous in a dry, airy spot for 1 to 2 days.
- 3 Plant the cutting in slightly moistened sandy substrate, burying it about 1 inch deep.
- 4 Keep in a spot with bright indirect light and water only when the substrate dries out.
- 5 After rooting (indicated by slight resistance when gently tugging the cutting), resume the normal watering schedule.
Materials needed:
How Big Does Trailing Jade Grow?
TLDR: Trailing Jade can reach up to 20cm tall with Medium growth rate.
Max height
20cm
Spread
1.2m
Growth rate
Medium
Foliage
Evergreen
Warning: Toxic Plant
This plant can be toxic if ingested. Keep out of reach of:
Plant Uses
Ornamental
Great for decoration
Ground Cover
Soil coverage
Is your plant showing symptoms?
Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:
What Diseases Commonly Affect Trailing Jade?
TLDR: Trailing Jade is susceptible to 3 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.
Root Rot
Root rot is a serious fungal disease that affects the root system of plants, causing them to decay and die. It is primarily caused by overwatering, poor drainage, or soil-borne fungi such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium. The disease thrives in waterlogged conditions where roots are deprived of oxygen, making them susceptible to fungal infection.
Scale Insects
Scale insects are small sap-sucking pests that appear as brown, shell-like bumps on plant stems and leaves. There are over 25 species, divided into armored (hard) and unarmored (soft) scales. They feed by piercing plant tissue and extracting sap, which weakens the plant and can lead to yellowing, stunted growth, and even death if left untreated. They also excrete honeydew, which attracts ants and promotes sooty mold growth.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are small, soft-bodied insects covered with a white, waxy, cottony material. They are common pests of houseplants and outdoor plants in mild climates. These sap-sucking insects feed on plant tissue, causing damage, stunted growth, and can lead to plant death if left untreated. They produce sticky honeydew which attracts sooty mold.
Meaning & Symbolism
Due to its pendulous and vigorous growth habit, it is seen as a symbol of resilience and abundance, an association common to 'jade' type plants in popular gardening culture.
Compare with similar plants
| Attribute | Difficulty | Light | Watering | Pet Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Maple | Easy | Bright indirect | 14d | ✓ |
| Silver Birch | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
| Common Blanketflower | Easy | Direct sun | 10d | ✓ |
| Cushion Bush | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
