Graptopetalum paraguayense
| Light | Bright light to full sun; more sun brings out the pink and yellow blush |
|---|---|
| Water | Water thoroughly when the soil dries; reduce in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining gritty succulent mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Best above freezing; hardy to roughly USDA zone 9 with dry protection |
| Propagation | Leaves, offsets and stem cuttings (very easy) |
| Toxicity | Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Graptopetalum paraguayense, the ghost plant, is an easy-going Mexican succulent that forms loose, trailing rosettes of thick, pointed leaves in a pearly grey-blue. Grown in strong light the powdery leaves take on a soft pink, apricot or yellow blush, which — together with the waxy, ghostly bloom that gives the plant its name — has also earned it the common name mother of pearl plant. Despite the species epithet paraguayense, it is native to Mexico rather than Paraguay, the name being an early misattribution that has stuck.
Description
Graptopetalum paraguayense produces open rosettes 8–15 cm across of firm, spatula-shaped leaves that come to a soft point. Each leaf is coated in a fine powdery farina that rubs off easily where handled, leaving a fingerprint. Colour shifts with light and season: cool grey-blue and lavender in shade, warming to pink, peach and yellow tones under bright sun.
As the plant matures it develops sprawling stems that lengthen and trail, dropping and re-rooting leaves as they go, so a single rosette gradually becomes a loose, cascading colony. In spring it sends up airy sprays of small star-shaped flowers, pale cream or yellowish and speckled with red, held on slender branched stalks above the foliage.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the mountains of eastern Mexico, where it grows on rocky slopes and cliff faces in bright, well-drained situations. This background explains its two defining traits in cultivation: a strong tolerance for drought and lean soils, and a habit of clinging to and cascading over rock, which translates neatly to a hanging pot or the edge of a container.
It has been cultivated so widely and for so long that it is a fixture of old gardens across warm-temperate regions, often passed along as broken-off leaves and stems — a large part of why it is nicknamed a "pass-along" plant.
Cultivation
The ghost plant is one of the most forgiving of all rosette succulents and an excellent choice for beginners. Grow it in a fast-draining, gritty mix in as much light as you can give it; ample sun is what develops the pink and yellow tones, while too little light produces stretched, spaced-out rosettes that revert to plain grey-green. See Watering for general technique — water thoroughly once the soil has dried, then let it dry again, and keep it drier and cooler through winter.
It appreciates good airflow and dislikes sitting wet, especially in cold weather. In frost-free climates it thrives outdoors year-round and is happy in rock gardens, walls and hanging containers; where frosts are hard, grow it in a pot that can be moved under cover. Try to handle the leaves as little as possible, since the powdery bloom does not grow back and fingerprints remain until the leaf is replaced. See Repotting when a colony outgrows its container.
Propagation
Few plants are easier to multiply. A single leaf, cleanly detached and laid on top of dry, gritty mix, will usually root and form a new plantlet within a few weeks — this is how the species spreads itself in the wild and along garden paths. Stem cuttings and the numerous offsets root just as readily; allow any cut or detached surface to callus for a day or two before setting it on the mix, then water lightly once roots appear. See Propagation — cuttings and Propagation — offsets for full technique.
Cultivars and hybrids
Graptopetalum paraguayense crosses freely with related genera and is a parent of many popular intergeneric hybrids, most notably the ×Graptoveria and ×Graptosedum groups (crosses with Echeveria and Sedum respectively), which inherit its ease of growth and powdery, colour-shifting leaves. A subspecies, G. paraguayense subsp. bernalense, is also recognised. See the Graptopetalum genus page for an overview.
Common problems
- Etiolation — the most common complaint; in too little light rosettes stretch, space out their leaves and lose the pink and yellow colour. Move to brighter conditions and propagate the leggy growth.
- Rot — from overwatering or a slow-draining mix, particularly in cool, damp winters; stems and lower leaves go soft and translucent.
- Rubbed bloom — the powdery farina marks permanently where handled; harmless, but avoid touching leaves you want to keep pristine.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the leaf axils) and occasional aphids on the flower stalks. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Graptopetalum — the genus overview
- Echeveria — a close relative and common hybrid partner
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — leaf · Propagation — offsets · Repotting