Echeveria ‘Morning Beauty’

Echeveria 'Morning Beauty' (Echeveria 'Morning Beauty') is the succulent to reach for when a pot or a rockery needs something neat that will never outgrow it. The rosettes sit about 20cm tall and 25cm across, pale and powdery with a pink blush along the leaf edges in strong light, and they hold that shape all year. It is also not toxic to cats or dogs.

Why you'll love it

• It thrives on neglect. Thick leaves store their own water, so a month between drinks does no harm. Overwatering is what kills it.
• It stays small. At 20cm by 25cm it suits a shallow bowl, a rockery pocket or the front edge of a bed, and never needs cutting back.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs, which is uncommon among plants that survive a hot balcony.
• Orange and pink flowers. Slim arching spikes lift well above the rosette in the warmer months and hold for weeks.
• It multiplies itself. Offsets form around the base and pull away cleanly, so one plant becomes a row within a few seasons.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A shallow terracotta bowl with a working drainage hole is ideal, because it dries quickly between waterings. Group three or five rosettes for a fuller look.

Rockeries and gravel gardens. Tuck plants into pockets between stones, where drainage is sharp and the crown sits proud of the soil line.

Borders and edging. Set plants about 25cm apart, matching their mature width, so the rosettes just touch and read as a continuous pale band along a path.

Growing Echeveria 'Morning Beauty' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun brings out the pink edging; part shade gives a greener, looser rosette. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid to semi-arid gardens. It handles light frost only, so colder districts want it in a pot you can move under cover.

Soil. A gritty cactus and succulent mix, or potting mix opened up with coarse sand. In the ground it needs a raised, free draining bed. Wet feet through winter is what kills echeverias, not cold on its own.

Water and feed. Soak it, then let the mix dry right through: roughly every two to three weeks in summer and every four to six in winter. Half strength liquid fertiliser twice over spring and summer is plenty.

Pruning. None to speak of. Pull dried lower leaves away by hand and cut spent flower stems at the base. If the rosette stretches, it wants more light.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is sold in a single size, tube stock. That means a young rosette roughly 5cm to 8cm across rather than the finished 25cm plant, so allow a season or two of growing on before it fills a decorative pot. Most customers order several at once.

Succulents are among the best travellers we send, because the leaves carry their own moisture and arrive firm. Leave yours dry in bright light for about a week before the first watering. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full succulent range
• Plants that are safe around cats and dogs
• Rockery and gravel garden plants
• Choosing the right pot size for a succulent

Common questions

How often should I water it?

Only once the mix is dry all the way through, roughly every two to three weeks in summer and every four to six in winter. Soft translucent lower leaves mean too much water, not too little.

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Echeverias are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this suits a courtyard or balcony where pets have access. Chewed leaves will spoil the rosette shape, so raise the pot if your dog is curious.

Can it live indoors?

Only in the brightest position you have, hard against a north or east facing window. In average indoor light the rosette stretches, pales and loses its tight form.