Scientific Name
Pachyphytum bracteosum Klotzsch
Common Names
Silver Bracts, Silverbracts, Moon Stones, Moonstones
Synonyms
Cotyledon pachyphytum, Echeveria bracteosa, Echeveria pachyphytum
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Pachyphytum
Description
Pachyphytum bracteosum is a glaucous, succulent undershrub up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall, with plump, silvery-grey leaves tending to pink and producing very remarkable spikes of flowers. The leaves are obovate to club-shaped, up to 4.4 inches (11 cm) long, up to 2 inches wide and up to 5.6 inches (14 cm) thick. The inflorescence shows a most striking contrast between the red color of the petals and the pale glaucous hue of the large calyx and bracts and all the rest of the plant and the flowers.
Photo via surrealsucculents.co.uk
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Pachyphytum will not tolerate frosts well. Temperatures below 20 °F (-6 °C) will kill the plant, and temperatures which may go below 45 °F (7 °C) during extended period should be avoided. It tolerates high heat and intense sunlight. As with most succulents from Crassulaceae family, Pachyphytum can tolerate (and even appreciated) poor soil conditions, so long as it is well draining. It can thrive in full or partial sunlight.
Allow the soil to dry out before watering, and be careful to avoid getting water on the leaves. In winter, the plants will require more water, as winter begins its active growth season. If you are unsure when to water your plant, watch the lower most leaves for signs of drying and water them then. Pachyphytum is far more likely to survive under-watering than over-watering. The thick fleshy leaves will appear wilted and a bit “under-full” when they need water.
One of the most common pests to houseplants is the mealybug, and your Pachyphytum may fall prey to this pest. The symptoms of a mealybug infestation is slowed or stopped growth (though in summer this is a normal sign of dormancy)… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Pachyphytum
Origin
Pachyphytum bracteosum is native to Mexico.
Subspecies, Varieties, Forms, Cultivars and Hybrids
Links
- Back to genus Pachyphytum
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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