Echeveria elegans /ˌɛkɨˈvɪəriə ˈeː.ɫɛ.ɡãːs/
Common name: Mexican snowball · Mexican gem · White Mexican rose
Echeveria elegans is a succulent plant in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae), native to semi-desert habitats in Mexico. It forms tight, symmetrical rosettes of fleshy, pale blue-green leaves and produces pink, yellow-tipped flowers on slender stalks in late winter and spring. It is one of the most widely grown echeverias, valued as an ornamental for rock gardens, containers, and succulent collections because of its neat form and ease of care.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun to light shade
Water
Infrequent; let soil dry out between waterings
Soil
Gritty, fast-draining cactus mix
Hardiness
Zones 9–11
Mature height
About 5–10 cm (0.2–0.3 ft)
Pet safe
Yes; non-toxic to cats and dogs
Difficulty
Easy
Propagation
This species offsets prolifically, so simply separate the chicks from the mother rosette and pot them into gritty soil. Leaf cuttings also root readily: let a detached leaf callus for a few days, then lay it on dry soil until new growth appears.
Fun facts
- It offsets freely, forming dense colonies of rosettes that look like a scattering of snowballs.
- The genus Echeveria is named after Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy, an 18th-century Mexican botanical illustrator.
- A powdery white coating (farina) on the leaves helps reflect sunlight and reduce water loss.
- It won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.