Origin

• This tree is found primarily in its natural habitat in South Africa. It is an evergreen and has those properties of plants that are accustomed to dry weather. The leaves are fleshy and hold water, which allows the jade tree to survive in South Africa.
  
  

Requirements

• If you are growing a jade tree, do not overwater the plant because the stems will rot, according to The Bonsai Hub. Because the jade tree is a succulent, storing water in its leaves, it requires little watering. The leaves will appear swollen because of the water they are retaining. The swollen appearance has given the jade a nickname: The money tree. The jade tree can grow in various types of lighting. If you want your jade to bloom, it needs to be exposed to sunlight on a regular basis. However, if the jade is overexposed to light, the leaves can burn. Jade trees can be grown indoors or outdoors. Outdoor growing exposes the tree to sunlight, which the plant will like, but pests can do some damage to your jade tree. Jades must be protected from aphids.
  
  

Bonsai

• The jade tree is considered a bonsai, which means tree-in-a-pot in both the Japanese and Chinese languages. Bonsai is an ancient oriental horticultural art form. However, bonsai is now practiced all over the world, notes Bonsai Clubs International.
  
  

Features

• A tree, including the jade tree, that is planted in a pot is not considered a bonsai until it has been shaped, pruned and trained into a specific shape. Bonsais are kept small by controlling the growing conditions. The gardener decides what the design is going to be and he allows specific branches to grow while others are pruned.
  
  

Warning

• The stalk of a jade tree can be easily damaged because it is soft. Consequently, when working with the jade tree you must be very careful when handling the stalk. Otherwise, jade trees are considered maintenance free.
  
  

Slow Growth

• A jade tree can grow to be 6 feet tall, although the process is very slow. Sometimes, the growth process is so slow that it can take 20 years before the jade tree will reach 3 feet in height.
  
  

Easy to Propagate

• Propagation is easy: Cut off a leaf and plant it. The leaf will grow roots and you will have a new plant, according to Free Information Society.