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Products > Crassula ovata 'Gollum'
 
Crassula ovata 'Gollum' - Gollum Jade
   
Image of Crassula ovata 'Gollum'
[2nd Image]
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Succulent
Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops)
Origin: South Africa (Africa)
Evergreen: Yes
Flower Color: Pink & White
Bloomtime: Infrequent
Synonyms: [Crassula argentea, C.portulacea]
Height: 1-3 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Seaside: Yes
Summer Dry: Yes
Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F
May be Poisonous  (More Info): Yes
Crassula ovata 'Gollum' (Gollum Jade) - A small shrubby succulent to 2 to 3 feet tall by 1 to 2 feet wide with interesting tubular leaves that have a reddish tint. As with Jade plant this cultivar has pinkish white star-like flowers, that often appear in late fall and early winter. Plant in full sun to bright shade in a well-drained soil. Cold hardy to 20-25° F and useful as an outdoor ornamental in USDA Zones 9-10 and a great house plant or winter protected specimen potted plant elsewhere. This is a similar cultivar to the earlier Jade cultivar 'Hobbit' that has leaves are curled back around while the cultivar 'Gollum' has leaves that are nearly tubular and appear to be tipped with a suction cup reminiscent of the J.R.R. Tolkein character by the same name. Both 'Gollum' and 'Hobbit', which are sometimes referred to collectively as the "Tolkien Group", are interesting plants with trunks that become thick with age and develop interesting stem patterns. Great for container culture and Bonsai cultivation. Our plants from John Bleck who helped introduce this plant into cultivation in the US in the mid 1970's from his Abbey Gardens Nursery, having first received it from Brazilian plantsman Severino Rocha. The plants passed from John through the hands of noted plantsman Paul Hutchinson (of Tropical World Nursery) to end up at Grigsby Nursery where David Grigsby coined the ingeniously descriptive name 'Gollum'. In an article by Margrit Bischofberger of the The Crassulaceae Network titled Crassula ovata Tolkien Group" it is noted that Crassula ovata 'Gollum' first appeared in print in the 1981 Grigsby Nursery Wish Book. We also grow several other Crassula ovata cultivars, including 'Big Alice', 'Crosby's Dwarf', 'Hummel's Sunset' and 'Pink Beauty'

The information displayed on this page about Crassula ovata 'Gollum' is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.

 
San Marcos Growers, established in 1979, closed for regular business on December 23rd 2025 as the property will be developed for affordable housing.
The gates are closed but we will be open by appointment only as we liquidate remaining plants, supplies and equipment. Our remaining plants are listed on our Live Inventory Page.
 
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