Plant Care Library

Other Names:  Hens And Chicks

Description:

This variety is very drought tolerant, producing ball shaped rosettes of foliage that is powdery blue-gray with pinkish edges; distinctive pink flowers with yellow tips on tall bracts in summer; ideal for containers or rock gardens

Ornamental Features

Mexican Snowball features unusual bracted pink tubular flowers with yellow tips rising above the foliage from early to mid summer. Its attractive succulent oval leaves remain powder blue in color with showy gray variegation and tinges of pink throughout the year. The coral-pink stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Mexican Snowball is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Mexican Snowball is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Mexican Snowball will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity extending to 14 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Mexican Snowball is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.