Mexican Snow Ball Echeveria elegans
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Echeveria perelegans
- Phonetic Spelling
- ek-eh-VER-ee-ah ELL-eh-ganz
- Description
-
White Mexican Rose is a perennial succulent that is native to Northeastern Mexico and grows well in sub-tropical climates such as Southern California. The plant grows in rosette-shaped clumps and has striking flower stalks that bloom from late winter to summer.
Here in North Carolina, Echeveria is grown most often as a houseplant in shallow containers. The plant is also used outside in rock gardens and in containers on sunny, dry spots such as decks or patios. Echeveria plants do well in full sun to partial shade and are relatively disease-free. The most common problem with these plants is overwatering as they prefer dry, well-drained soil. They are easily propagated with cuttings or leaves or division of the offsets or “pups” that are produced by this plant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for mealybugs, aphids, and vine weevils. No significant diseases.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Container Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
thick, spoon-shaped, pale green leaves that transition to white with peachy-pink coloring - 'Hyaliana'
tight rosettes of spoon-shaped, pale green leaves that turn pink and purple - 'Raspberry'
small, dense blue-green leaves with a white powdery coating - 'Super Clone'
larger, thicker foliage of olive green to white, larger flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Hyaliana', 'Raspberry', 'Super Clone'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
thick, spoon-shaped, pale green leaves that transition to white with peachy-pink coloring - 'Hyaliana'
tight rosettes of spoon-shaped, pale green leaves that turn pink and purple - 'Raspberry'
small, dense blue-green leaves with a white powdery coating - 'Super Clone'
larger, thicker foliage of olive green to white, larger flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Hyaliana', 'Raspberry', 'Super Clone'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Echeveria
- Species:
- elegans
- Family:
- Crassulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- NE Mexico to Veracruz
- Distribution:
- Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, and Mexico Southwest
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Inconspicuous capsules
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Long slender stalks of 5-7 pink tubular flowers with yellow tips in winter and spring. Blooms multiple times in the plant's lifetime.
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-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- tight rosettes of pale green-blue or silvery-green fleshy leaves. Up to 2.5 inches long and .8 inches wide.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
- Stem Description:
- Grayish green fleshy stems
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
