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Why would someone breed a new variety of plant and then call it Gollum, the creepy character in Lord of the Rings?

I’m sure there are fans of the character, but he’s hardly endearing. Despite the name, the plant is kinda cute. Its full name is Crassula ovata ‘Gollum,’ and if you’re keeping up with your botanical Latin, or still have the tag stuck in one of your houseplants, you’ll know that Crassula ovata is the jade plant.

As for who named this variety, as far as I can determine, a man named John Bleck cultivated it at his Abbey Garden nursery in the United States and listed it in his catalogue in the mid-1970s. It was preceded by another cultivar named ‘Hobbit’ that he sourced from a Helen Smith, a succulent grower in Ramona, Calif.

Someone was on to a short-lived theme, but it appears to have ended there, at least as far as jade plants go as I’m not aware of any Gandalfs or Bilbos. There is, however, an orchid named Tolkien and a sea holly called Blue Hobbit.

Both plants were eagerly adopted by Tolkien fans, at least the ones with a love of houseplants. They made a good choice because jades are one of the easiest houseplants to care for as they survive most conditions indoors. The plant is native to Southern Africa where it grows wild on rocky slopes as a small shrub.

All they need indoors are a bright light and a little water now and then, with less in winter. Too much water in poorly draining soil and the roots will rot, the biggest reason most jade plants fail. Too much sun and the leaves will develop a red tinge around the edges. Keep a jade happy and it could grow as high as a kitchen counter.

Although they’re grown mainly for their glossy leaves, it might even flower for you — once it’s mature enough. It might take a few years, or it may never flower at all. To do so, it will need a rest. As the days grow shorter, reduce water and fertilizer and if possible, lower temperatures at night. Get it all just right and flowers will appear around the shortest day (yeah, only a month away) and last into January.

Jade plants are rarely troubled by pests but watch for scale insects. They appear as small bumps on stems and leaves. If you catch them early, dab with rubbing alcohol to rid the plant of them. If you notice tiny white or black spots on the leaves, don’t worry. They’re water-transferring pores called “hydathodes,” quite normal and not a sign of disease.

The biggest danger is a plant that becomes top-heavy and tips over. Although the branches become thick as they age, and look woody, they are succulents and will easily snap. The good news is the broken bits can be easily rooted.

As for the Gollum jade, I found one at a local greenhouse last winter and he’s growing well, back indoors after a summer outside. The leaves on this variety are unlike the paddle-shaped ones on the more common plants. They’re elongated, tubular, with concave tips that resemble suction cups. And there, I suppose, is why it was given the name Gollum as they do look a lot like the poor guy’s fingers.

Crassula ovata ’Hobbit’, the precursor to ‘Gollum,’ is similar with leaves that are broader at the tip, like small spatulas. Both types make excellent houseplants and one or the other should be available at nurseries with a good range of succulents.

Mine may have the name Gollum, that unsavoury character, so I think I’ll pretend it’s a Hobbit and call it Frodo. What, you don’t name all your houseplants? You should, my precious, because if these lockdowns continue you might find yourself talking to them.

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