Echeveria multicaulis aka Copper Roses

Echeveria multicaulis is a small succulent from southwest Mexico. Its native range includes Jalisco and Guerrero. It belongs to Crassulaceae, the stonecrop family. Gardeners also call it copper rose, maroon, or painted lady. It grows in a seasonally dry tropical climate. This perennial forms low mounds and spreads through offsets. It grows slowly and needs little routine care.

Garden plants reach about 0.33–0.83 feet [0.10–0.25 metres] tall. Their spread is about 0.33–0.5 feet [0.10–0.15 metres]. Short, green, fleshy stems hold rosettes of thick leaves. A pale, powdery coating covers the stems. The leaves are smooth and waxy, with no hairs. Each leaf has a plain edge rather than teeth. Leaves measure less than 0.08 feet [0.025 metres] long and wide. They are bright green, though some show grey or silver tones. Red edges grow stronger as the plant receives more light. Lower leaves may fall in autumn and winter. Stems can then look bare or grow too long.

Flowers appear in spring and summer on short stalks. The plant can flower again during the same growing season. Blooms range from yellow through orange to red. They have a tube-like form with a cup-shaped opening. Branched flower clusters form cymes above the leaf rosettes. The flowers add colour beside the long-lasting leaves. Dry seed capsules follow the flowers and hold tiny seeds. These fruits measure less than 0.08 feet [0.025 metres] across.

Grow copper rose in full sun or partial shade. It needs soil or potting mix that drains well. Loam, sand, and shallow rocky soils suit it. It tolerates drought and dry soil once growing. Choose a pot only slightly larger than the root ball. Avoid too much water or fertiliser, and allow winter dormancy. It grows outdoors in USDA zones 9–11 but cannot withstand hard frost. In warm areas, use it in rock gardens or crevices. Elsewhere, gardeners grow it indoors or in containers. Its small size suits pots and drought-tolerant garden plantings.

Division and leaf cuttings offer ways to make new plants. Bare, stretched stems can be shortened and rooted again. NC State reports no major pest or disease problems. The ASPCA lists this species as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. That safety listing does not establish that people can eat it.