Succulent
Ghost plant
Graptopetalum paraguayense · Crassulaceae
Also called: Mother-of-pearl plant, Sedum weinbergii (old/misapplied name), Ghost echeveria
Ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense) is a very low-water succulent well suited to Tucson and the low desert.
Ghost plant at a glance
- Water use
- Very Low (established)
- Sun
- Full morning sun with bright afternoon shade in Tucson, or filtered/bright light. One of the more sun-tolerant soft succulents, but reflected all-day low-desert sun can still scorch it; more sun deepens the pink/peach blush, shade keeps it bluer.
- Mature size
- Trailing/spreading stems to 1-3 ft long; rosettes ~3-4 in across. Mounds and cascades over pot edges and walls.
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast for a succulent; sprawls and trails readily.
- Bloom
- White to pale yellow petals with red speckles; foliage is silvery-gray, blushing pink-peach-lavender in sun/cold, Spring (Mar-May); small star-shaped flowers on slender stalks.
- Cold hardiness
- Fairly hardy for a soft succulent; tolerates brief light frost (roughly to the upper 20s°F) but is damaged by hard freezes. In Tucson protect or cover during the coldest nights; established plants in a warm microclimate often shrug off light frost.
- Soil
- Gritty, fast-draining cactus/succulent or decomposed-granite soil. Tolerates poor, rocky soils; never let it stay wet. Use drainage in containers.
- Native range
- Native to mountains of eastern Mexico (Tamaulipas); despite the species name it is not from Paraguay.
- Best used as
- Hanging baskets and trailing containers, Spilling over walls, rocks, and raised beds, Groundcover in protected succulent beds, Rock and gravel gardens, Easy-propagation pass-along plant, Houseplant in bright light
- Wildlife
- Minor nectar source for bees when in bloom; low overall wildlife value.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic and considered safe for dogs, cats, and humans. Good around pets and children.
How to grow Ghost plant in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Soak-and-dry: water deeply only when soil is fully dry (about every 1-2 weeks in summer, sparingly in winter). It stores water in its leaves, so err toward underwatering to avoid rot.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Very light feeder. A dilute balanced succulent fertilizer once or twice in spring/early summer is plenty; often thrives with no feeding in lean desert soil.
Pruning & care
Trim trailing or leggy stems to shape; fallen leaves root where they drop. Stem and leaf cuttings root extremely easily for propagation.
Notes
Tough, forgiving trailing succulent that takes more sun and neglect than most Echeveria-type rosettes, making it well suited to Tucson containers, hanging baskets, and protected beds. The pearly gray leaves develop a pink-to-peach blush under sun and cold stress. Extremely easy to propagate, dropped leaves often root on their own. Provide excellent drainage and protect from hard freezes.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; ASPCA Non-Toxic Plant List; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder