The red on the leaf edges is normally a sign of good lighting, which is ideal. You want to have the nice green with red edges, but if the whole leaf is red, it's getting too much sun. There are many different types of jades, but yours appear to be all the same. What are their locations in relation to light?

Joe

Is anyone able to answer any of my other questions?? They are all in a west window.

Hi americangolden,

No, I think you have just one kind of Crassula ovata, the species type. I think Joe1980 basically did speak to all your questions. I can sorta make out what you're seeing as differences between the plants, but actually the red edge and faint up-turning versus down-turning of the edges -- these are all natural variations within the normal, everyday "Jade Plant" Crassula ovata. These differences are just natural variations between individuals in the species, either from their genes or their upbringing.

Here in California where these are extremely common landscaping plants, Crassula ovata grown in shade have larger, darker green leaves which turn downward, whereas those grown in full sun have slightly smaller leaves with a red edge and without the downward curl.

The cultivar 'Hummel's Sunset' is a much, much lighter gold color with variegation. There also exists another variegate with cream-and-green variegation and pink or red edges, sometimes called 'Tricolor'. It tends to sprawl rather than standing firmly upright like the standard, species type, and it grows more slowly. (I read once that this variegate DOES occur naturally in habitat, which is sorta cool. My favorite variegates are vigorous ones which occur in habitat.)

There also exists a dwarf type with much smaller leaves and stature. And there are purported hybrids with C arborescens (Crassula undulata), and the rounded-down leaves of Crassula ovata 'Hobbit' or the tubular, trumpet-shaped leaves of C ovata 'Gollum'. The differences between these types are much more striking and obvious than the differences between the plants pictured. Hope that's not too disappointing! Happy growing!
--
DC in L.A.

Another fantastic response, DC! I also didn't see any meaningful difference. They are all normal C. Ovata.

Brad

Hey, American!

Indeed, they're the same C. ovata - the differences due to how they've been grown.
DC nailed it, regarding the larger, greener leaves having grown in lower light conditions.
You can compare the length of the internodes to see how stretched the older plants are.

Josh

Alright thanks for the info everyone.

One last question about the leaves. You said the larger green leaves are from lower light conditions well if you introduced it to much brighter conditions could those leaves turn lighter and red edges & face up or will they always face down and vice versa with the other jades I have? I imagine this is set in these genes like stated above but just curious for reference. Thanks!

Those older leaves won't change much as far as shape and orientation is concerned.
However, the new growth will be lighter in color, red-margined, more compact, and upright.
For a uniform look, pruning and leaf-plucking is always an option ;-)

Josh

Thanks greenman!

Hiya again, americangolden. If you haven't seen it, here is an ongoing thread where other jade fans have posted a lot of pictures and progress reports. These include pics of all the types I know: 'Hummel's Sunset', 'Tricolor', compacta, undulata, 'Hobbit', and 'Gollum'.

Jade, jades, jades, anyone?

Here in Southern California, Jade plants are a bit too common in landscaping to be popular in the cactus & succulent hobby. You could say they are victims of their own success!