Succulent
Perle von Nurnberg echeveria
Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg' · Crassulaceae
Also called: Perle von Nürnberg, Pearl of Nuremberg
Perle von Nurnberg echeveria (Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg') is a low-water succulent well suited to Tucson and the low desert.
Perle von Nurnberg echeveria at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Bright light with protection from harsh afternoon sun in Tucson. Bright morning sun plus afternoon shade (or filtered light) brings out the best pink-purple, powdery color; intense all-day sun scorches it, too little light makes it stretch and lose color.
- Mature size
- Solitary rosette typically 4-6 in across and up to ~6 in tall; offsets slowly.
- Growth rate
- Slow.
- Bloom
- Coral-pink/orange flowers; foliage is dusty lavender-pink to grayish-purple with a powdery bloom, Spring to early summer; arching reddish stalks.
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-tender; protect below ~32°F, best kept above 40°F. In Tucson grow in containers that can be sheltered, or in a frost-protected shaded microclimate; cover or move indoors during freezes.
- Soil
- Gritty, very well-draining cactus/succulent mix (add pumice or perlite). Never waterlogged; containers must have drainage.
- Native range
- Hybrid cultivar (a cross of Echeveria gibbiflora 'Metallica' x E. elegans); not found in the wild. Parent species are native to Mexico.
- Best used as
- Container and pot specimen, Succulent arrangements and dish gardens, Tabletop / shaded patio accent, Houseplant on a bright windowsill, Color accent (lavender-pink rosette)
- Wildlife
- Spring blooms provide minor nectar for bees and hummingbirds.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic and safe for dogs, cats, and humans (Echeveria are listed as non-toxic). Pet- and child-safe.
How to grow Perle von Nurnberg echeveria in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Soak-and-dry: water only when soil is completely dry (about every 1-2 weeks in summer, rarely in winter), at the base to keep the powdery leaves and crown dry and rot-free.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder. A dilute (quarter- to half-strength) balanced succulent fertilizer once in spring and once in early summer is sufficient; do not feed in fall/winter.
Pruning & care
Remove dead lower leaves and spent bloom stalks. Behead and re-root a leggy/etiolated rosette to refresh it; leaf cuttings and offsets propagate readily.
Notes
A popular ornamental hybrid valued for dusty lavender-pink rosettes coated in protective farina (powdery wax) that should not be rubbed off. Not a full-sun desert succulent in Tucson: give bright light but shield from scorching afternoon sun and frost; movable container culture is ideal. Etiolation (stretching) signals too little light. Easy to propagate from leaves, offsets, or beheaded rosettes.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; ASPCA Non-Toxic Plant List; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder