Ghost Plant Graptopetalum paraguayense
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Ghost Plant:
Previously known as:
- Sedum weinbergii
- Phonetic Spelling
- grap-toh-PET-al-um par-uh-gway-EN-say
- Description
-
Ghost Plant is a succulent in the jade family that is native to Mexico, The fleshy leaves form a rosette 3-6 inches across at the tips of stems. The whitish-green leaves become pink-tinged in hot dry weather and blueish in partial shade. The plant will grow to 1 foot tall and 2-3 feet wide. The stems continue growing and eventually become pendulous and can look nice cascading over a pot or stones. They can also be pruned to give them a bushier look. In spring it forms clusters of small star-shaped flowers that are white with small red dots.
This plant will grow in full sun to partial shade. Well-drained soil is a must and once established is drought tolerant. Use this plant in rock gardens, containers, as a ground cover or on the patio. It is low maintenance and deer resistant. The plant can tolerate temperatures down to 15 degrees F. if given protection.
Ghost plant is easily propagated but rooting leaves, division or stem cuttings.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems but watch for aphids, mealybugs and vine weevil.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- f. variegatum
range of pastel tones, pink, purple, yellow to blue, green, and silver with powdering coating - 'Peach'
rosettes of silvery white, peach, and pink foliage - 'Purple Haze' (hybrid of G. paraguayense x G. superbum)
rosette of pastel gray to lavender foliage with a powdery coating
- f. variegatum
- f. variegatum, 'Peach', 'Purple Haze' (hybrid of G. paraguayense x G. superbum)
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- f. variegatum
range of pastel tones, pink, purple, yellow to blue, green, and silver with powdering coating - 'Peach'
rosettes of silvery white, peach, and pink foliage - 'Purple Haze' (hybrid of G. paraguayense x G. superbum)
rosette of pastel gray to lavender foliage with a powdery coating
- f. variegatum
- f. variegatum, 'Peach', 'Purple Haze' (hybrid of G. paraguayense x G. superbum)
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Graptopetalum
- Species:
- paraguayense
- Family:
- Crassulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Multi-stemmed
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
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:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 3/4 inch star-shaped flowers with 5 petals are white with some red flecks in clusters in early spring
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Pink
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Deltoid
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1-3 inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide, thick flat triangular to spathulate leaves with pointed tips. Whitish green leaves that become pink-tinged in full sun and blue-gray in part shade or indoors
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Succulent round grey stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
