Plant Care Library

Description:

This variety features flat, open rosettes at the ends of fleshy stems; thick foliage is pale gray-lavender to pink; pale yellow and red flowers on branched inflorescences in late winter; ideal for rock gardens, or hanging baskets when stems elongate

Ornamental Features

Beautiful Graptopetalum features unusual clusters of buttery yellow star-shaped flowers with red tips rising above the foliage from late winter to early spring. Its attractive succulent oval leaves remain gray in color with showy lavender variegation and tinges of shell pink throughout the year. The chartreuse stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Beautiful Graptopetalum is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. 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

Beautiful Graptopetalum is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting
• Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

Beautiful Graptopetalum will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 3 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 24 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a slow 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 cuttings.

Beautiful Graptopetalum is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.