# Calling all green thumbs: is this jade? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-green-thumbs-is-this-jade/315497 "2005-08-04T00:04:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-green-thumbs-is-this-jade/315497/1 "2005-08-04T00:04:19Z")
I noticed this sprouting up between two bricks in my front walk a few months ago and thought it looked interesting. Today I noticed it practically quadrupled in size, and it looks a lot like jade. But I am used to seeing jade with more bulbous leaves. These leaves are pretty flat, but the stem really looks like that of a jade plant. [small pic (100KB)](http://fff.fathom.org/pages/attrayant/Jade%20small.JPG) [big pic (425KB)](http://fff.fathom.org/pages/attrayant/Jade%20big.JPG) [close-up of stems (84KB)](http://fff.fathom.org/pages/attrayant/Jade%20stems.JPG) If it is jade, I guess I should uproot it before October and put it in a pot, since I don’t believe jade is hearty enough for zone 7 winters. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-green-thumbs-is-this-jade/315497/2 "2005-08-04T00:13:35Z")
Not jade. I have a few jade plants and that stuff is not quite jade. I’ve seen it before growing in the wild, but I don’t know what it’s called. Not jade, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-green-thumbs-is-this-jade/315497/3 "2005-08-04T00:37:27Z")
Not jade, but a weed. I’m not sure what it’s name is, but around here we yank 'em out before they run all over everywhere. One of my college professors would probably protest and then reveal it’s a fascinating plant capable of something wondrous. But you know Prof, there’s only so many black mustard plants a person needs and they weren’t invited to crash my petunia party anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-green-thumbs-is-this-jade/315497/4 "2005-08-04T00:38:54Z")
It’s definitely not a jade plant. It is a weed, but I forget what it’s called. I agree that it’s sort of pretty, but you don’t want to let it spread too much, because it’s pretty aggressive. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-green-thumbs-is-this-jade/315497/5 "2005-08-04T01:12:58Z")
Broad leaf purslane is what it is called, I believe. Definitely a weed. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-green-thumbs-is-this-jade/315497/6 "2005-08-04T01:23:03Z")
Well damn. And it’s quite handsome. I might just pot it anyway. Thanks to all. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-green-thumbs-is-this-jade/315497/7 "2005-08-04T01:51:37Z")
Purslane is edible, quite tasty, and high in vitamin C & Omega 3 oils. Here’s a good link: [http://landscaping.about.com/cs/weedsdiseases/a/purslane.htm](http://landscaping.about.com/cs/weedsdiseases/a/purslane.htm)