Scientific Name
Graptopetalum paraguayense f. variegatum
Accepted Scientific Name
Graptopetalum paraguayense (N.E.Br.) E.Walther
Common Name(s)
Ghost Plant
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Graptopetalum
Etymology
The formal epithet "variegatum" (pronounced var-ee-GAY-tum) means "variegated or having a pattern of different colors or marks."
Origin
Graptopetalum paraguayense f. variegatum is a variegated form of Graptopetalum paraguayense, which is native to native to Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Description
Graptopetalum paraguayense f. variegatum is a beautiful succulent that forms rosettes of bluish-gray leaves adorned with irregular cream or pinkish-yellow markings, along with shades of pink and purple. The rosettes grow at the tips of ever-lengthening stems that become pendent over time. The leaves are fleshy, flat, and pointed. The amount of variegation varies from rosette to rosette.
In spring, the plant produces white star-shaped flowers with tiny, red specks.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20°F (-6.7°C) to 50°F (10°C).
How to Grow and Care
When planting your Ghost Plant in a container, choose a well-drained potting mix and a container with drainage holes.
Try mixing Ghost Plant with other succulents for an interesting yet low-maintenance planting. Or you can incorporate your Ghost Plant into a rock garden. You can create a rock garden by piling large rocks, such as limestone, as the base and filling in gaps with smaller stones, gravel, and soil pockets for planting.
Ghost Plant thrives in sunlight, so choose a location to receive full- or half-day sun. When grown as a houseplant, keep it near a sunny window.
Some prefer to keep their Ghost Plant trimmed to create a fuller shape. For a different look, you can allow it to get a little "leggy." This allows the twisting stems to climb out of the pot, cascading down gently. Be sure to let the soil almost completely dry between waterings.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Graptopetalum.
Links
- Back to genus Graptopetalum
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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