Graptopetalum Species, Ghost Plant, Mother of Pearl Plant
Graptopetalum paraguayense
Family: | Crassulaceae (krass-yoo-LAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Graptopetalum (grap-toh-PET-al-um) (Info) |
Species: | paraguayense (par-uh-gway-EN-see) (Info) |

Category:
Alpines and Rock Gardens
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Provides Winter Interest
Foliage Color:
Height:
6-12 in. (15-30 cm)
Spacing:
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Can be grown as an annual
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Red
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Spring
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From leaf cuttings
Allow cut surface to callous over before planting
By simple layering
Seed Collecting:
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Anniston, Alabama
Gadsden, Alabama
Lillian, Alabama
Loxley, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Wetumpka, Alabama
Phoenix, Arizona
Sierra Vista, Arizona
Brentwood, California
Carmichael, California
Davis, California
Exeter, California
Half Moon Bay, California
Hayward, California
Lodi, California
Murrieta, California
San Jose, California
San Leandro, California
Vista, California(9 reports)
Archer, Florida
Bartow, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Hobe Sound, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida(2 reports)
Lake Mary, Florida
Lecanto, Florida
Milton, Florida
Orlando, Florida(2 reports)
Port Charlotte, Florida(2 reports)
Port Richey, Florida
Saint Augustine, Florida(2 reports)
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Umatilla, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
Barnesville, Georgia
Griffin, Georgia
Hawkinsville, Georgia
Mcdonough, Georgia
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Mandeville, Louisiana
Metairie, Louisiana
Pollock, Louisiana
Zachary, Louisiana
Clinton, Mississippi
Terry, Mississippi
Las Vegas, Nevada
Elephant Butte, New Mexico
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Elizabeth City, North Carolina(2 reports)
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Shelby, North Carolina
Gold Hill, Oregon
Columbia, South Carolina
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Prosperity, South Carolina
Arlington, Texas
Austin, Texas(4 reports)
Brazoria, Texas
Canyon Lake, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Edinburg, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Harper, Texas
Houston, Texas(4 reports)
La Porte, Texas
League City, Texas
Mcallen, Texas
Medina, Texas
Mission, Texas
North Richland Hills, Texas
Pflugerville, Texas
Quinlan, Texas
Red Oak, Texas
San Angelo, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(4 reports)
Kalama, Washington
Dniprovka, Zaporiz'ka
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
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Positive | On Jan 24, 2015, poeciliopsis from Phoenix, AZ wrote: Central Phoenix -- Graptopetalum paraguayense grows well in my garden, but doesn't like a lot of afternoon sun. A large patch died after removal of a shrub providing afternoon shade. My existing plants grow in filtered shade, some in a pot, some in the ground. The potted plant is with a Beaucarnea recurvata and is watered erratically and not often. The plant in the ground is watered every two weeks in summer and not in winter. This plant is frost-hardy and has survived hard freezes in my garden -- down into the low 20s. |
Positive | On Dec 9, 2012, elnido from Kingstown, NC wrote: I have a specimen of this that has been growing at historic home in Shelby NC possibly since 1920s. We have old photos of cascading rosettes from raised wooden planter box that it still grows in today. During a time when the home was empty and renovations resulted in paint chips and other debris falling on it, the planting dwindled, but tender loving care indoors over winter for the few stems that remained and attention to replanting any leaves that drop off, have restored it to its previous glory. Temperatures here range from teens in winter to nineties and occasional 100s in summer, though last winter was very mild. It is outdoors with southern exposure but evening shade. We have also had some very dry, drought conditions that it has tolerated. A wonderful plant! I just learned tha... read more |
Positive | On Sep 24, 2012, natplant from Ravenel, SC wrote: I've had this plant for over 12 years, in zone 8b Ravenel, SC. It is very hardy here, never goes dormant. |
Positive | On Sep 24, 2012, gbirdie from Jacksonville, FL wrote: You have to love a plant that thrives on no attention. I've had my ghost plant for about 25 years in an elevated pot, in partial shade. It has taken temps in the low 20's with no protection, flowers profusely, and I have passed along dozens of offspring potted from this one mother plant. I love succulents, but this is one of my favorites. |
Positive | On Feb 25, 2011, victorengel from Austin, TX wrote: The 17 degree weather this winter didn't phase this plant -- either in the ground or in an elevated, unprotected pot. |
Positive | On Jun 4, 2009, TheBigBlueFrog from Loxley, AL wrote: I got this plant from my great aunt, who received it from my great-grandmother. My great-grandmother brought the plant with her from Demopolis, AL to Loxley, AL. My mother and grandmother also took cuttings from the plant, so it's been in our family for four generations. |
Positive | On Apr 14, 2009, Psyguy10 from Fayetteville, NC (Zone 8a) wrote: ahhhh, this is a wonderful plant in my experience, they are drought tolerant, heat and cold resistant and are all round easy to grow. i've had some survive down to 15 F with some protection (although i don't recommend it) they like some sun, but in the summer they do good with a little bit of shade... i water mine when the soil is dry, as for the potting mix they aren't picky at all; as long as it drains fairly well they're good to go! and they are easyyyyy to propagate just take a leaf off let it callous over for a day or two and put it in some sandy mix and keep damp... in a few weeks it'll have rooted. this is a great plant in my opinion. cheers |
Positive | On Feb 15, 2009, peejay12 from Porthleven, Helston, Cornwall, This plant must be one of the hardiest of the Echeverioideae. |
Neutral | On Oct 24, 2008, BlissfulGarden from Baton Rouge, LA wrote: From http://www.cactuscollection.com: |
Positive | On May 7, 2008, angele wrote: Bought a cutting from a local nursery. The cutting had 15 leaves on it. Removed the leaves and laid them on the ground in a shady spot, watering them only sporadically. After about a month I have 13 new baby plants. Photo added to PF. |
Positive | On Nov 24, 2007, gray_53 from Mcdonough, GA wrote: Got a cutting from my grandmother. If you look at the leaves, each one is about 137.5 degrees from the next largest one, the golden angle. |
Positive | On May 15, 2005, spaceman_spiff from Saint Petersburg, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: This plant loves the full sun here. I have one in the sun (see photos) and another larger plant on a shaded patio. The one on the patio does nicely in a raised planter, allowing the stems of the plant to cascade downward for a nice effect, but it seems to be more "scraggly" than the one in full sun. And the one in the shade hasn't bloomed, while the one in the sun has. John |
Positive | On Oct 10, 2003, BUFFY690 from Prosperity, SC (Zone 7b) wrote: I have quite a few of these plants growing is various places in containers in my garden I just leave them out all the time and it seems that the outher leaves turn brown and curl up over the center leaves in the winter and in the spring the dried leaved fall off and it just keeps on growing. I am going to take in the larger one this year to see if I can get some size on it. |
Neutral | On Apr 4, 2001, Ehowell from Weyburn, SK wrote: The succulent leaves of this plant are silvery green They alternate along the stems and terminate in rosettes. A carefree plant that propagates easily from a single leaf. |