Graptopetalum amethystinum aka Jewel Leaf Plant

Graptopetalum amethystinum has the common name jewel-leaf plant. It is an evergreen succulent, so it keeps its leaves year-round. It belongs to the stonecrop family, Crassulaceae. It comes from Mexico: Durango, Sinaloa, Jalisco, and Zacatecas. There it grows in desert or dry shrubland. Kew calls it a succulent subshrub. In gardens, the plant grows as a clump.

The RHS gives its height as about 1 foot (0.3 metres). Its listed garden range reaches 1.6 feet (0.5 metres) tall and wide. Plants take five to ten years to reach full size. Much of its appeal comes from its thick, round leaves. Their colours range from blue-grey to reddish pink. Each leaf can reach about 0.23 feet (0.07 metres) long. The leaf shapes and colours suit close viewing in pots.

Flowers grow on short stems in spring and summer. Each bloom forms a star of red petals around a yellow centre. Blooms measure about 0.03–0.07 feet (0.01–0.02 metres) across. They add a new colour to the fleshy leaves. Both leaves and blooms make this small plant worth growing for show. The RHS suggests it for pots and patio planting. It also lists the species for displays that need little care.

Give this plant full sun and a spot with shelter. The RHS says to grow it under glass in full light. Use peat-free potting compost with a loam base. Sandy or loamy soil suits it if water drains well. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soil. Water well in spring and summer; do not keep it dry year-round. In these seasons, give it a weak liquid feed each month. Use a feed low in nitrogen. Water less in autumn and winter, keeping the compost just moist.

The RHS gives it a hardiness rating of H2. It copes with cool weather but cannot live through a freeze. Protecting it from frost is thus a key part of care. The RHS reports few usual pest or disease problems. It needs no pruning, which helps make routine care simple. Grow new plants from seed or take leaf cuttings. These give two ways to add plants to a collection. Its small size suits life in pots under glass.