Rock Rose
Echeveria elegans
Also known as
Mexican Gem, Mexican Snow Ball, White Mexican Rose, Mexican snowball
Echeveria elegans - 1 by Eria Wei (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Full Sun
Easy care
Light watering
Tender
10b
USDA zone
2°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
|---|---|---|
50cm | Max | 50cm |
20cm | Min | 20cm |
2 years to reach maturity
Flowering
spring
summer
autumn
winter
This plant has no fragrance
More images of Rock Rose
Rock Rose Overview
The Rock Rose, Echeveria elegans is also known by the names Mexican Snowball and Pearl Echeveria. Echeveria elegans is a tender succulent plant, grown for the attractive rosettes of fleshy, succulent leaves that can develop fantastic colouration, particularly when planted in full sun. Rock Roses are drought-tolerant and cope well with infrequent watering. Check the leaves for softening and wrinkling to indicate it wants a good deep watering. This plant grows in clumps and is easy to propagate through the leaves. Simply separate the spoon-shaped, white-green leaves, allow them to callus and plant in dry soil! Grown more for the fleshy leaves over the waxy flowers, they are lantern-shaped and coloured pink with yellow tips. Echeveria plants are widely grown in gardens and as houseplants in more temperate climates prone to frost.
Common problems with Rock Rose
Aphids, Wine Weevil larvae, and Mealybugs can attack the leaves and roots of plants.
Rock Rose Companion Plants
Plant alongside other succulent plants.
How to harvest Rock Rose
Generally not harvested, but the cut flower industry have started using the whole plant in floristry, harvested at various stages.
How to propagate Rock Rose
Seed
Sow seed as soon as ripe.
Division
Divide and plant offsets in spring.
Cuttings
Root stem or leaf cuttings in late spring. Can be propagated from leaves, simply remove cleanly from the mother plant, let callus for a few days until the wound has closed and place on soil or in water and wait for roots to develop. Roots usually grow first to seek out water, followed by new leaves. This may take anywhere from a week to a few months and there is no need to water propagating succulents as they will glean all the nutrition and moisture they require from their mother leaf, which will shrivel up over time. The original leaf may be gently removed once it has dried up and become crispy in texture, only remove if it comes away easily otherwise you risk damaging the baby plant.
Special features of Rock Rose
Attracts useful insects
Attract bees
Drought resistant
Can survive without water for long periods, but will not thrive.
Attractive flowers
Attractive leaves
Attracts bees
Other uses of Rock Rose
Indoors, greenhouse, rock garden
Ornamental
Echeveria elegans is cultivated as an ornamental plant for rock gardens planting, or as a potted plant.
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