Echeveria elegans aka Pearl Echeveria

Echeveria elegans is an evergreen succulent from Mexico. Gardeners call it Mexican gem or Mexican snowball. It belongs to the stonecrop family, Crassulaceae. Wild plants grow in rock cracks and on rocky slopes. LLIFLE records it near Pachuca in the state of Hidalgo. Its thick leaves form neat rosettes close to the ground. New rosettes grow along runners and build dense clumps. Growth is slow, with full size reached in two to five years.

Clumps reach about 0.3 feet [0.1 metres] tall. They can spread to 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] wide. Each rosette may reach 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] across. The leaves are thick, smooth, and shaped like spoons. Their shades range from pale blue-green to near white. A waxy coat gives them a soft, pale look. Some leaves have red edges or rims that let light through. Short, fleshy stems have a grey-green tone and powdery coat.

Thin pink flower stalks rise above the low leaves. These reach about 0.8 feet [0.25 metres] long. Small flowers hang along one side of each stalk. They form pink to coral tubes with yellow tips. Plants can flower more than once during their lives. Bloom dates vary with the growing site and climate. RHS gives late winter and spring as the main season. Chicago Botanic Garden records flowers from May through August. The small fruit forms a capsule with little visual impact. Flowers draw bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Grow this plant in full sun and freely draining soil. It also takes some shade, according to NC State. Loam or sand suits it, across a broad pH range. For pots, RHS recommends peat-free compost with extra grit. Water in moderation during growth, then stop during dormancy. Too much water is a main cause of trouble. The plant tolerates drought, heat, and dry soil. Chicago lists USDA zones 9–11; RHS gives a UK rating of H2. It needs frost protection, so cooler gardens require sheltered indoor growing space.

Use it in pots, rock gardens, borders, or low groundcover. Shallow pots also suit its use as a houseplant. Its pale leaves give year-round interest beside rocks and paving. Deer tend to leave it alone. It needs no pruning and has few disease problems. Check for mealybugs, aphids, and vine weevils. Grow new plants from leaves, cuttings, seeds, or divided offsets. ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. That safety listing does not establish its value as food.