Echeveria elegans has stunning types although most of them are not confirmed botanical varieties and are affected by the environment. Here, I collected 7 types of Echeveria elegans: Alba, Blue, Crystal Rose, Potosina Crystal (Rose), Raspberry Ice, Albicans, and kesselringiana.
I’ll show a picture of these Echeveria elegans types and tell you about their appearance. I also teach you how to take care of them to grow healthy. Keep reading to choose the best Echeveria elegans varieties for your plant collection.
Echeveria elegans is also known by several charming common names like Mexican Gem, Mexican Ghost Plant, Mexican Hens and Chicks, Mexican Snowball, and White Mexican Rose. As you found out these names evoke the plant’s native habitat in Mexico and its beautiful appearance.
Types of Echeveria elegans
As I told you above most Echeveria elegant types that you find in the market and nurseries are not real botanical cultivars and their various appearance is dependent on the different conditions. Anyway, in the following, you can see 5 types of Echeveria elegant, one Hybrid and a confirmed variety.
Echeveria elegans Types Dependent on Conditions
Although the following types of Echeveria elegant are in the market I couldn’t find any scientific source to confirm them as real botanical varieties of Echeveria elegant. So, I think their key Characteristics (especially their colour) may be changed in various conditions.
Echeveria elegans Alba
Echeveria elegans Alba is a stunning type of the popular Echeveria elegans succulent. It’s characterized by:
- Pale green leaves: The primary colour of the leaves is a soft, light green.
- White and pink hues: The leaves often display beautiful shades of white and pink, especially towards the tips.
- Compact rosette: It forms a symmetrical, compact rosette.
- Korean origin: This variety is believed to originate from Korea.
Echeveria elegans Blue
Echeveria elegans Blue is a stunning succulent variety prized for its distinctive blue-toned leaves. Its key characteristics are:
- Blue-green foliage: The plant’s most striking feature is its beautiful blue-green leaves.
- Compact rosettes: It forms symmetrical, compact rosettes.
- Easy care: Like other Echeverias, it’s relatively low-maintenance.
➡ Read my other post about Blue Echeveria Types.
Echeveria elegans Crystal Rose
This variety is particularly prized for its stunning colouration. It typically displays a beautiful blend of:
- Pale green: The base colour of the leaves.
- Soft pink: Blushing pink hues that often accentuate the leaf edges and tips.
- Crystal-like appearance: The leaves often have a translucent or crystalline quality in certain lighting conditions.
Echeveria elegans Potosina Crystal (Rose)
Here are some of the key characteristics that confirm this identification:
Colouration:
- The plants display a beautiful range of colours, including pale green, soft pink, and even hints of peach or yellow.
- The leaves are translucent or crystalline, especially in certain lighting conditions.
Rosette Shape:
- The plants form symmetrical, tightly packed rosettes of thick, fleshy leaves.
- The leaves have slightly pointed tips, adding to the plant’s elegance.
Overall Appearance:
- The plants exhibit a compact and well-defined rosette structure.
- The combination of colours and the crystalline appearance of the leaves is characteristic of Echeveria elegans Potosina Crystal (Rose).
Echeveria elegans Raspberry Ice
Echeveria elegans Raspberry Ice is a stunning type of Echeveria elegans, known for its vibrant colours and compact growth. Its key features are:
- Vibrant colours: The plant displays a captivating blend of icy blue-green hues with striking pink and red tips, especially on the older leaves. This colour combination gives it its “Raspberry Ice” name.
- Compact rosette: It forms a symmetrical, tightly packed rosette of thick, fleshy leaves.
- Easy care: Like other Echeverias, it’s relatively low-maintenance and adaptable to various growing conditions.
Echeveria elegans Hybrid
Echeveria albicans (Echeveria albicans E.Walther, Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 30: 147, fig. 82-83 (1958)) is a captivating succulent prized for its unique appearance. It’s characterised by:
- Silvery-white leaves: The plant’s most striking feature is its thick, powdery-coated leaves that shimmer in the light.
- Compact rosettes: They form beautiful, symmetrical rosettes of leaves.
- Native to Mexico: This succulent is native to the arid regions of Mexico, where it has adapted to survive in harsh conditions.
Echeveria elegans albicans is indeed a hybrid of Echeveria elegans and Echeveria albicans. The following shows its silvery beauty.
Echeveria elegans Varieties
Echeveria elegans var. kesselringiana is the only confirmed variety of Echeveria elegans. Its first description was done by von Poellnitz (in Fedde’s Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 39: 239. 1936). It is a captivating succulent that is often confused with Echeveria albicans. While they share similarities, they have distinct characteristics.
Its Key Features:
- Chunky, thick leaves: Unlike the more slender leaves of Echeveria albicans, this variety boasts thicker, plumper foliage.
- Icy, pastel colouration: The leaves often display a beautiful, frosty or pastel hue.
- Compact growth: It forms lovely, compact rosettes.
- Farina coating: The leaves are covered in a powdery, wax-like substance called farina, which helps protect the plant from harsh conditions.
Echeveria elegans var. kesselringiana differs from Echeveria albicansin:
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- leaves only up to 3 cm long and 1.5 cm broad / albicans3 – 5 cm long and 1.5 – 2.5 cm broad and with a distinct slender apiculus, lacking in var. kesselringiana,
- pedicels only 7 – 8 mm long / albicans14 mm long and
- sepals to only 4 mm long / Alicante 10 mm long.
Caring for Types of Echeveria elegans
Echeveria elegans is a relatively low-maintenance succulent, but it does have specific care requirements to thrive.
Light
- Bright, indirect light: Echeveria elegans loves plenty of light, but avoid intense, direct sunlight, especially during the hottest part of the day. Too much direct sun can cause sunburn on the leaves.
Watering
- Less is more: Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Overwatering is a common cause of root rot.
- Check the soil: Use your finger to test the soil’s moisture level before watering.
Soil
- Well-draining soil: A cactus or succulent mix is ideal. Ensure the soil allows water to drain quickly to prevent waterlogged roots.
Temperature
- Warm temperatures: Echeveria elegans prefers warm temperatures. Avoid exposing it to frost or freezing conditions.
Potting
- Proper drainage: Use a pot with drainage holes to prevent water accumulation.
- Repotting: Repot your Echeveria elegans every 2-3 years or when the plant becomes rootbound.
Propagation of Types of Echeveria elegans
- Offsets: You can propagate your Echeveria elegans by separating offsets (pups) from the mother plant.
- Leaf cuttings: You can also propagate from leaf cuttings. Allow the cuttings to dry for a few days before planting in well-draining soil.
Pests and Diseases
- Watch for pests: Mealybugs and scale insects are the most common tiny bugs on houseplants like Echeveria. You must treat them with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
- Prevent rot: Ensure proper drainage and avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
How to Identify Types of Echeveria elegans Easily
The best way to identify your Echeveria elegans types is to get help from a reliable plant identification tool. Google Lens can also do it. It is a free online tool that can easily identify various ornamental and wild plants. I tested it to identify my Succulents and found it works well. You can take a picture of your Echeveria elegant, and the “Google Lens” will tell you its variety in only 2 seconds with high accuracy.
Conclusion
Now you have a stunning collection of 7 types of Echeveria elegant, including Alba, Blue, Crystal Rose, Potosina Crystal (Rose), Raspberry Ice, Albicans, and kesselringiana. I showed you their images of these lovely indoor plants and told you about their appearance and how to care for them. Have you ever used plant identifiers? Do you think they are reliable in identifying plants? Please tell me in the comments about your experiences. You can also ask me your questions; I will answer as soon as possible.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.