Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg'
| Light | Bright light, including some direct sun, to keep the colour and compact form |
|---|---|
| Water | Deeply but infrequently; let the soil dry out fully between waterings (see Watering) |
| Soil | Fast-draining, gritty mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Beheading and offsets; also leaf cuttings |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg (often written Perle von Nürnberg and affectionately shortened to PVN) is one of the most widely grown Echeveria hybrids in the world, prized for its rosette of dusky pinkish-purple leaves overlaid with a soft, powdery bloom. The pastel, almost iridescent colouring — shifting between lavender, pink and grey depending on light and season — has made it a mainstay of collections, weddings and windowsills alike.
It is a hybrid, traditionally attributed to a cross between Echeveria gibbiflora var. metallica and Echeveria elegans, raised in Germany in the early 20th century. Because it is a cultivar, its care follows that of the parent genus Echeveria.
Description
'Perle von Nurnberg' forms a tidy, symmetrical rosette, typically 10–15 cm across, of broad, spoon-shaped leaves that come to a small point. The leaves are coated in farina (a natural waxy powder, also called pruinose bloom) that lends the plant its matte, frosted finish and mutes the underlying colour into soft pinks, purples and greys. Colouring intensifies in bright light and cool temperatures, and fades toward green when the plant is grown in shade.
With age the rosette lifts on a short, thickening stem and may become slightly leggy — a natural habit that many growers periodically correct by re-rooting the crown. In late spring and summer mature plants send up arching flower stalks bearing nodding, coral-pink to apricot bells with yellow interiors, held well above the foliage.
Cultivation
Grow 'Perle von Nurnberg' as for the parent genus — see Echeveria for full detail. In short, it wants as much bright light as you can give it, including several hours of direct sun, to keep the rosette compact and richly coloured; too little light causes it to stretch (etiolate) and pale. Plant it in a fast-draining, gritty mix and water thoroughly only once the soil has dried out completely, easing off in winter. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
A few notes specific to this cultivar:
- Protect the farina. The powdery bloom does not regenerate once rubbed off, leaving permanent shiny marks. Handle the plant by the stem or rootball and avoid watering over the leaves.
- Watch for stretching. Indoors or in dim conditions the rosette opens up and loses colour; give it your brightest spot, and acclimatise gradually to strong sun to avoid scorch.
- Refresh leggy plants. When the stem grows bare, behead the rosette and re-root it, and the old stump will often push out offsets.
Propagation
'Perle von Nurnberg' is propagated true to type by vegetative means. Beheading the crown and re-rooting it as a stem cutting is the most reliable way to rejuvenate an old plant, and offsets that form around the base can be separated as offsets. Whole leaves twisted cleanly from the stem may, after callousing, form roots and a tiny new rosette (see Propagation — leaf where available, or Propagation — cuttings), though leaf success is less consistent than with many other echeverias. As with all cultivars, seed will not come true and is not used to maintain it.
Common problems
- Etiolation — insufficient light stretches the rosette and washes out the colour; the fix is simply more light.
- Rot — overwatering or a slow-draining mix causes the base or lower leaves to turn soft, brown and mushy.
- Marked bloom — fingerprints and water spots on the farina are cosmetic but permanent until the affected leaves are outgrown.
- Pests — mealybugs love to hide deep in the rosette and among the roots; watch also for aphids on flower stalks. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Echeveria — the parent genus
- Echeveria elegans · Echeveria gibbiflora — reputed parent species
- Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — offsets · Soil and potting mix · Watering