Painted Echeveria

Painted Echeveria (Echeveria nodulosa) is a compact Mexican succulent whose deep green leaves are striped and edged in wine-red. It stays small, about 10cm tall and wide, and rewards a sunny position and well drained soil that is neutral to alkaline. Mature plants send up bell flowers in coral red fading to cream.

Why you'll love it

• Wine-red markings. Deep green leaves carry stripes and red edges that make a bold, graphic pattern.
• Red and cream flowers. Mature plants carry bells in coral red that shade to cream at the tips.
• A true species. It is a species rather than a hybrid, which gives it a distinctive look among the cultivars.
• Compact and sun loving. At 10cm it fits a small pot, and sun brings out the strongest leaf colour.

Where it works best

Small pots and bowls. Plant 10cm apart in a shallow bowl of gritty mix, or let one rosette star in a small pot.

Sunny rockeries. Full sun in a gravelly pocket gives the deepest red markings. In wet climates, choose a spot under an eave.

Windowsills. Strong light indoors keeps the stripes bold. Pet owners can relax a little, because echeverias are not considered toxic to cats or dogs, although a chewed rosette rarely recovers.

Growing Painted Echeveria in Australia

Position and climate. Plant it in full sun for maximum leaf colour, hardening a new plant off over a week or two before strong summer sun. It is at home outdoors in warm temperate, Mediterranean, and arid and semi-arid climates, and copes in subtropical gardens when sheltered from long wet spells. It will not take frost, so in colder districts grow it in a pot and bring it under cover from autumn to spring.

Soil. Choose well drained soil that is neutral to alkaline. A gritty cactus mix does the job, and acidic, peaty mixes are best avoided.

Water and feed. A succulent in a pot wants a long, thorough soak followed by a proper dry spell. Direct the water to the soil around the plant rather than into the rosette, and cut back sharply in winter. Feed lightly once in spring, at half the label rate.

Pruning. No pruning needed. Peel away dead, dry leaves from the base of the rosette.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Painted Echeveria as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once it is potted up. A tube plant is a small young rosette, and flowering follows once it has matured and settled.

Succulents are among the easiest plants to post. Unpack the box promptly, pot the plant into gritty mix and leave it unwatered for about a week so any bruised roots can heal. Stock of this tube depends on our grower and is not always there. When the page shows sold out, press the notify button and we will email you the day it is back.

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

• Explore the echeveria collection
• More plants that suit pots
• Succulents in Australia: a care guide
• Tips for growing indoor plants

Common questions

Why is it called the Painted Echeveria?

The leaves look painted, with wine-red stripes and edges over deep green. The pattern is part of the species.

What soil does it need?

Well drained, neutral to alkaline soil. A gritty cactus mix suits it, and heavy or acidic mixes should be avoided.

When will it flower?

Mature plants send up bell flowers in coral red shading to cream. A new tube plant needs time to build size first.