Graptopetalum Amethystinum is an unusual flower and succulent plant species that look like moon rocks with a powdery coating.
Graptopetalum amethystinum – Lavender Pebbles belongs to the genus Graptopetalum in the Crassulaceae family, and it is native to west-central Mexico and the United States. It is related to Echeveria.
The Amethystinum Graptopetalum has lovely shades of lavender pink and green leaves with a powdery coating that can be seen in any succulent garden.
The fleshy leaves of this plant are plump and it has rounded leaves, just like the Pachyphytum Oviferum plant (moonstones), but in lovely shades of lavender, pink, and green in color.
The common names for Graptopetalum Amethystinum [Grap-toh-PET-al-um, Am-eth-ee-STEE-num] include in the garden:
- Lavender Pebbles
- Jewel Leaf Plant
- Wine Coolers
- Jewel Leaf Plant
- Wedding Almond
Synonym: Echeveria amethystina
Graptopetalum Amethystinum Plant Care
Size & Growth
The Graptopetalum Amethystinum is known for its chubby leaves with round tips instead of the usual pointy ones seen in most succulents.
The shades of rose and lavender are strongest among the new rounded leaves, while the older leaves become greenish.
Rubbing off its powdery coating makes the shades more vivid. Be careful, though, because the leaves of this spoon or egg-shaped rosette are easily knocked off.
The stems will easily break, particularly when the rosette becomes droopy as long as the plant will spill over the pot.
Trim regularly and re-root this plant.
Flowering and Fragrance
The genus Graptopetalum produces a beautiful, star-shaped flower.
They bloom in spring with hexagonal flowers in a beautiful color and it produced in large quantities during the spring season.
The color is more vivid and the larger plant is more beautiful and compact under the environment of long light time and certain temperature differences.
Light & Temperature
Lavender Pebbles (G. Amethystinum) prefer the full sun, which enhances their strong, full growth.
It also tolerates partial sun. Placing the plant in full and direct sunlight produces a bold and intense coloration of the leaves compared to being placed in partial shade.
During harsh summers, bright light but partial shade is recommended. Keep in mind that this plant starts turning soft and light yellow when it receives too much sun.
Although this occurrence is rare, moving the plant to a spot with less light is best.
Similar to Echeveria plants, these plants are known to be tender succulents.
They perform best in warmer climates and are not cold hardy like some Sedums and Sempervivums.
Nonetheless, these are still rather tough plants, and most of the genus may survive temperatures down to 20° degrees Fahrenheit (-7° C). The USDA hardiness zones of this plant are 9a – 11.
You can maintain the humidity of your Graptopetalum amethystinum by misting it with a spray bottle three times a week or using a humidifier.
The ideal humidity levels for Lavender Pebbles are about 40% during the summer and 30-40% in winter.
Watering and Feeding
These succulent plants have thicker and healthy leaves that can store water internally, which means they can survive without excess water for a longer duration.
However, this plant needs moisture to grow optimally, so it requires a little watering but don’t sit in wet soil too long.
Check the soil if there is excess moisture, and check the water if it feels dry. Let the soil absorb the water and recheck the moisture level after a few hours.
Water more frequently during the summer months, cutting the water drastically in the winter. Overwatering will lead to root rot.
You can drain the existing pot and wait for it to dry, or repot it in new, dry soil.
Make sure you only give this cactus succulent enough water until there is barely any excess moisture on top of the surface -otherwise, it may rot and die.
Feed with a liquid succulent fertilizer throughout its growing period, during the late summer and early spring seasons. Provide minimal water during the winter months.
Soil & Transplanting
For healthy plants, provide Amethystinum with a moist, fresh potting mix for optimal growth, and place it in an area with plenty of sunlight.
Use potting soil for succulents and cacti, ensuring the porous soil has excellent drainage.
Add organic fertilizer to the mix to enhance the plant’s natural defenses against pests.
Grooming and Maintenance
Lavender Pebbles grow fairly quickly while freely setting offsets.
Instead of producing new rosettes around the mother plant’s base, this plant stems branch supports individual rosettes.
Without much maintenance and extra care, this plant forms a striking ground cover in a short period.
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How To Propagate Lavender Pebbles
The propagation of G. Amethystinum is done through leaf cuttings or stem cuttings of plants that you can find in your garden,
Cut off the stem or rosette and plant it in a well-draining and dry soil mixture.
Put the succulent cuttings in a pot with dry, well-drained soil under a shady area.
Sprinkle some water on the leaves regularly.
Once the thick leaves start getting roots, spray more quantity of water frequently.
Once the roots are established, put them carefully in a pot or container to grow.
Water regularly till new growth emerges.
Avoid exposing the plants to sudden temperature changes such as cold weather because these can cause leaf damage.
Add coarse grit to soil-less compost and repot every year in late-spring.
These plants are the easiest and quickest succulents to propagate. This plant propagates in a large bed through leaf dropping and re-rooting!
Lavender Pebble Plant Pest or Diseases
This Graptopetalum plant is susceptible. Look for signs of mealybugs on succulents.
If honeydew and waxy fibers are detected on the shoots and leaves, it shows mealybugs infestation.
Moreover, dying and wilting succulent plants signify a mealybug’s infestations around the root.
Graptopetalum Pebbles Uses
These succulent plants are often planted in succulent gardens and used in wedding floral and special arrangements.
The Wedding Almond looks beautiful in a hanging planter as it tends to spill around the edges, trailing along the ground.
This plant’s silvery, pale leaves look striking when growing in a moonlight garden, as they reflect the light of the moon during the nighttime. The sight is truly stunning!
Gary Antosh
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