Crassula ovata is native to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, where it grows as a woody shrub in rocky, dry terrain. In cultivation it has become one of the most widely grown houseplants on earth, valued precisely because it asks very little and gives back a great deal over a long growing relationship. The fleshy, egg-shaped leaves — ovata refers to this shape — are a rich green, plump with water reserves that allow the plant to ride out irregular watering with no complaints. Given a sunny indoor position, well-drained loamy soil, and cool to average indoor temperatures, it grows steadily into a branching, tree-like form reaching three to six feet over many years.

Bloom is uncommon in home settings, but the structure alone justifies the space. The most reliable path to problems is overwatering or a pot that retains too much moisture. Propagation is simple: a single leaf laid on barely moist cactus mix will eventually produce a new plant. The prominently scarred stems and somewhat architectural branching habit give it a presence that goes well beyond most windowsill plants.