Echeveria Purple Pearl

Echeveria Purple Pearl

Echeveria Purple Pearl is a reasonably new cultivar of Echeveria, a darker form of the well known Echeveria Perle von Nurnberg, a hybrid created by Alfred Craser in 1930 from E Gibbiflora Metalica X E Potasina (now Echeveria Elegans).

Size and Colours

Echeveria Purple Pearl is the same as the parent in size and shape except that its colour is a distinctly much richer purple. They tend to grow a larger single head to 20cm wide and show a much deeper tone of purple when grown in good conditions. 

Flowers

Generally has a solitary rosette of purple leaves up to 50mm long and 20 to 30 mm wide, rounded at the tips with a small point on the tips.

Growing tips

Growth is variable depending on the food and water given but generally they are 100 to 180mm wide and maybe a bit taller stems over time elongate and heads should be cut off, allowed to dry then replant. As for most Echeveria, the growing season is from Spring to Autumn, and slowing down over winter. Rarely sets pups or offsets. This is a particularly nice sized and shaped plant with a very popular colour This hybrid has stood the test of time and still widely available today. This plant looks great with several heads planted together in a large bowl. Pot in a well drained soil mix designed for succulents. Normal potting mixes generally have too many fines and hold too much water for too long. Pot your plant into a pot that will hold it a look balanced to the size the plant will grow to in the future. Use a small amount of slow release fertilizer 5 to 6 month will cover the growing season and I like to use a bit of Dolomite lime for good health and minerals.

Threats and pests

Pests the usual suspects for Echeveria Aphids, Mealybugs treat according to the chemical you might get locally check our blog on pests and their control. E Purple Pearl could be a bit frost tender so plant it in the garden in frost free areas or if your garden is sheltered extra strong summer sun may burn the leaves so a bit of summer shade may be needed The newer leaves are often a bit more richly coloured than later in the season. Remove old and dead leaves. Do not water by days apart. Water well when your plant dries out. In summer this could be every few days, winter it could be weeks apart. Also note as your plant grows and the root ball fills the pot your plant will dry out faster, as larger plants use more water.

Propagation

Propagation offsets if available or buy head cuts when your plant overgrows its pot. The most common way of propagation of E Purple Pearl is by leaf cutting.

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