Echeveria ‘Violet Queen’

Echeveria 'Violet Queen' (Echeveria 'Violet Queen') is a compact rosette succulent with softly ruffled leaves in pale grey lavender. Each rosette sits about 150mm tall and 200mm across, which suits a small pot, a windowsill or a gap between rocks. It is drought tolerant, asks almost nothing of you, and is not toxic to cats or dogs.

Why you'll love it

• The colour is the point. Pale grey with a lavender flush and wavy leaf margins, deepening as the plant gets more sun.
• Pet friendly. Echeveria is recognised as non toxic to cats and dogs, so it is one of the few decorative succulents you can leave at floor level.
• It forgives being forgotten. Drought tolerant and happy in poor soil. A missed fortnight does no harm, while a generous watering schedule will kill it.
• Small enough to collect. A whole group fits on one sunny sill, and pink and orange bell flowers arrive in the warmer months.

Where it works best

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A shallow 150mm pot with drainage holes and a gritty mix is all it needs. Grouped pots on a hot sunny balcony are where these plants look best and ask least.

Rockeries and dry gardens. Tucked between rocks it gets the sharp drainage and reflected warmth it wants, in a position where little else would establish.

Borders and edging. For a low succulent edge, set plants about 200mm apart to match their mature spread, which keeps the rosettes distinct rather than crushed together.

Growing Echeveria 'Violet Queen' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun outdoors gives the tightest rosette and the strongest colour. Indoors it needs the brightest window you have, because in dim light the rosette stretches, pales and never recovers. It suits warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid to semi arid gardens, and tolerates light frost only.

Soil. A cactus and succulent mix, or potting mix cut heavily with coarse sand or perlite. Poor soil is fine. Anything that holds moisture around the base is not.

Water. Soak the mix, let it drain, then leave it until dry all the way through: roughly every two to three weeks in summer and monthly or less in winter. Water at the soil, never into the rosette, because water trapped in the crown rots it.

Feed and grooming. A half strength liquid feed once or twice over spring and summer is plenty. Pull off the dried lower leaves as they shrivel, and separate offsets in spring if you want more plants.

What to expect when it arrives

'Violet Queen' is sold as tube stock, so you receive a single young rosette, typically 40mm to 80mm across. This is a slow growing succulent: two or three seasons to reach the full 200mm spread is normal, not a sign anything is wrong.

Succulents travel better than almost anything else we send, since the leaves carry their own water. Leave yours dry for the first week somewhere bright but out of harsh midday sun. Plants are 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
• See more plants safe for pets
• Compare planting partners in the rockery plant collection
• Choosing the right size pot for your plant

Common questions

Is it really safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Echeveria is recognised as non toxic to cats and dogs, which is why we tag it as pet friendly. A pet that chews a leaf may still get a mild stomach upset.

Why is my rosette stretching and going pale?

Not enough light. In dim conditions the stem lengthens and the leaves space out, and that growth never tightens again. Move it into full sun or the brightest window you have.

How often should I water it?

Only when the mix is dry right through, roughly fortnightly in summer and monthly or less in winter. Soft translucent leaves mean too much water, wrinkled ones mean too little.