Echeveria derenbergii aka Painted Lady

Echeveria derenbergii is a small evergreen succulent in the stonecrop family. Gardeners know it as painted lady or baby echeveria. It comes from eastern Oaxaca, Mexico, in the Sierra Mixteca. Its native region has a seasonally dry tropical climate. The plant forms tight rosettes that grow together in dense clusters. New offsets help these clusters spread into a low carpet.

Plants reach about 0.33 feet (0.1 metres) tall. RHS gives a spread of 0.33–1.64 feet (0.1–0.5 metres). NC State reports that clusters can reach 3 feet (0.91 metres) wide. Each rosette measures up to 0.25 feet (0.076 metres) across. The thick leaves have broad tips and narrow bases. Their colour ranges from whitish green to blue-grey, with red edges. Each leaf ends in a point and has a smooth margin. The leaves lack hairs and have a waxy surface. Growth is slow, with maturity taking two to five years.

Small, cup-shaped flowers rise above the leaves on pink-red stalks. The flowers are yellow with red tips. They grow in clusters, including racemes with blooms along one side. Flowering runs from late winter into summer. The plant can flower more than once during its life. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds visit the flowers. Dry capsules hold tiny seeds after flowering.

Give this plant full sun or sun for part of the day. Long exposure to direct sun can scorch its leaves. It grows in sandy or loamy soil that drains well. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. A standard cactus compost suits plants grown under glass. Keep humidity low and reduce watering sharply in winter. Water more during active growth, but avoid excess moisture. RHS rates it H2, which means it cannot survive freezing. NC State lists USDA zones 9a–12b. In warm climates, use it in rock gardens or crevices. Elsewhere, grow it in pots, indoors, or under glass.

This plant needs no pruning and has few major disease problems. Mealybugs, aphids, and vine weevils may attack it. Excess water can cause soft, yellow leaves and root rot. Cold water can make leaves drop. Remove dead leaves to reduce places where pests can gather. Divide offsets in spring, or take leaf and stem cuttings. ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats and dogs. The supplied sources do not establish edible uses or human safety.