No-Fail Houseplants

Jade Plant

What It Looks Like

A succulent (Crassula argentea) with thick, rounded leaves, stout trunk, and an upright, bushy form. Most varieties have green foliage, though leaves of some are outlined in red. Clusters of pink, star-shaped flowers from fall into spring.

What It Needs

Bright, indirect light all year and little water. As a general rule for all houseplants, water when the top 20 percent of soil is dry.

How to Use

Slip plants from 4- or 6-inch nursery pots into decorative containers to display on a desk or countertop. Plants can eventually reach several feet tall but stay compact in small pots.