20 Types of Graptopetalum Succulents [With Pictures]

Graptopetalum is a succulent plant genus. It is commonly found in Arizona and Mexico and grows in the form of a rosette. It is also commonly called a ghost plant or a leatherpetal.

Here are 20 types of Graptopetalum succulents for easy identification purposes. You can also go through the Graptopetalum care and propagation guide below to learn about growing it at home.

Types of Graptopetalum

Related Post:
1,000 Types of Succulents With Pictures

Graptopetalum Species and Varieties

Graptopetalum amethystinum

Graptopetalum amethystinum is a beautiful slow-growing succulent that forms rosettes on erect to decumbent-pendent, up 1 foot (30 cm) long stems. The rosettes grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter. Leaves are fleshy, rounded, first rose-colored, later grey, and with powdery coating. Flowers are star-shaped, whitish-yellow to pale yellow, and cross-banded with dark red.

Graptopetalum bartramii

Graptopetalum bartramii is a rare species of succulent plant known as Bartram’s stonecrop and Patagonia Mountain leatherpetal. It is endemic to Arizona, in the Patagonia Mountains in Santa Cruz County and within the Coronado National Forest. It is being evaluated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for inclusion on the list of endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

It is easily identifiable by its thick, pointed leaves and colors ranging from pale, dusky blues, greens, and purples to darker greens with reddish tips. Each plant flowers in autumn, sending up one to four stalks that release seeds for propagation. They prefer shaded areas with a dense collection of plant matter, like leaves, bark, and moss, and typically grow in areas that are within 50 feet of creeks, springs, or other water sources.

Graptopetalum bellum

Graptopetalum bellum is a small succulent that forms rosettes composed of dull grey or bronze leaves. It grows up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall, slowly spreading by offsets. Rosettes are up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. Leaves are triangular and up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) long. Flowers are star-shaped, up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) across, deep pink to red, and appear at the top of a branched, up to 4 inches (10 cm) long inflorescence.

It differs from the other Graptopetalum by its large flowers that have lips around the carpels

Graptopetalum filiferum

Graptopetalum filiferum is a unique clump-forming that grows up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall before sprouting pups and forming a cluster. Rosettes are almost flat to the ground, up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter, and have 75 to 100 leaves. Leaves are fleshy, spatulate to triangular, glabrous, and metallic green with fine red tips. Flowers are white and spotted with red.

Graptopetalum fruticosum

Inconspicuous, shrub-like graptopetalum from the coastal mountains of the Pacific region Mexicos with attractive red-dotted flowers

Graptopetalum macdougallii

Graptopetalum macdougallii is a caulescent, succulent plant with its leaves arranged in rosettes. It may form stout clumps up to1 m in spread by means of short stolons and axillary basal shoots or stems. It has a shimmering blue-white coloring that gives it a delicate beauty. A protective waxy powder that covers the succulent leaves provides this coloration. The flowers are c. 2.5 cm across, each with 5 petals marked with dense red lines.

Graptopetalum mendozae

Graptopetalum mendozae is a small succulent shrub with erect to pendant or decumbent stems and rosettes of pale gray leaves that take on darker colors in the summer months. It grows up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall. Rosettes are up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) in diameter. Flowers are small, white, and star-shaped.

Graptopetalum ‘Mirinae’

Graptopetalum ‘Mirinae’ is a perennial, rosette-forming succulent. It is certainly a hybrid, resembles Graptopetalum mendozae but has not the same type of rosettes and the flowers are not pure white as those of G. mendozae but have more or less tiny red dots. The rosettes are up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) in diameter. The leaves are up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) long and 0.2 inches (5 mm) wide. The flowers are small, up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) in diameter, with 3, 4 or 5 petals.

Graptopetalum pachyphyllum

Graptopetalum pachyphyllum is a low-growing succulent, branched at the base, with sprawling stems and glaucous blue-green leaves tipped with red and massed in small rosettes at the tip of each stem. The stems grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) long. Flowers are white-green banded in dark red.

Graptopetalum paraguayense

Graptopetalum paraguayense is a clump-forming, perennial succulent with a basal rosette of thick fleshy leaves resembling Echeveria. The common names include Mother-of-pearl-plant and Ghost plant probably with reference to the look of the greyish white, opalescent leaves.

The stems are up to 12 inches (30 cm) long and 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) in diameter. Rosettes are up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter and grow at the tips of the stems.

Plants turn pinkish yellow in hot, dry conditions and blue-gray when pampered with partial shade and regular water. They bear star-shaped, white-and-red flowers in spring.

Graptopetalum paraguayense subsp. bernalense

Graptopetalum paraguayense ssp. bernalense differs from ssp. paraguayense by being smaller in all it parts and for its yellowish leaves not more than 4 cm long. It is a very interesting clumping species with relatively small rosettes, about 10-20 cm high and 5-7 cm diameter each plant. The flowers are whitish, weakly spotted or plain.

Graptopetalum pentandrum

Graptopetalum pentandrum is a succulent shrublet that forms rosettes at the ends of strongly woody stems. The rosettes are up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) in diameter. Stems are dull green, branched, first erect, later slightly decumbent, and up to 6 inches (15 cm) long. Leaves are up to 2.2 inches (5.5 cm) long, up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) wide, first bluish-green, later yellowish-grey, mostly with a lavender hue. Flowers have yellowish-white petals, basing a continuous dark red stripe and upper half almost entirely dark red. They appear in late winter to early spring.

Graptopetalum pentandrum subsp. superbum

Graptopetalum pentandrum subsp. superbum has thick, fleshy, pale gray-lavender to pink leaves that cluster in rosettes at the end of thick stems. The rosettes are open, flat, and up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) in diameter. Old plants have been noted with stems up to 7 feet (2.1 m) long, but more typically, this plant remains fairly compact, especially when grown in full sun. In late winter to early spring, arise up to 2 foot (60 cm) tall, multi-branched inflorescences, holding small, star-shaped flowers with greenish-yellow petals with red markings on the tips.

Graptopetalum ‘Purple Haze’

Graptopetalum ‘Purple Haze’ is a gorgeous clump-forming succulent with sprawling stems that have rosettes of plump at the end. The rosettes grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. Leaves are glaucous grey with raspberry blotches in winter. The flowers are sometimes not much different from Graptopetalum paraguayense, but while G. paraguayense may have white flowers almost without flecks, G. ‘Purple Haze’ always has red flecks.

This succulent is often mistaken for the similar hybrid Graptopetalum ‘Victor Kane’. ‘Purple Haze’ has thinner leaves with a slightly glossy surface and the red flecks on the petals are thinner and less pronounced. However, there are seasons where these two hybrids are impossible to tell apart and seasons when the difference is more obvious.

Graptopetalum rosanevadoensis

Graptopetalum rosanevadoensis’ closest morphological species are G. superbum and G. pentandrum. It differs from both in having a much larger rosette with more numerous leaves and in terms of its number of branches per panicle and its stem diameter, which is intermediate between the two species.

Graptopetalum rusbyi

Graptopetalum rusbyi is a perennial, densely cespitose succulent plant in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae) with several stemless or short-stemmed rosettes normally mat-forming. The leaves with minute papillae. In the springtime, plants develop flower spikes about 15 cm tall with clusters of pale flowers cross-banded with dark red and yellow dots towards the center of the petals. The flowers have a distinctive evil smell.

Graptopetalum saxifragoides

Graptopetalum saxifragoides is a mat-forming succulent that forms dense rosettes of thick, pale green, or completely reddish leaves. The rosettes grow up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) in diameter. Leaves are up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) long and 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) wide. Flowers are creamy-white to yellowish, patterned with brownish-violet, 5-petaled, and up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) across.

Graptopetalum sinaloensis

Graptopetalum sinaloensis is endemic to south-central Sinaloa, Mexico. It grows in very localized areas, on rocky walls of streams and at the foot of hills, forming small populations in reduced areas of 5 to 10 m2. Graptopetalum sinaloensis differs from other Graptopetalum species from Sinaloa by its 5-merous flowers vs. G. rusbyi with 6-7-merous ones, and by its paniculate inflorescence vs. G. occidentale with cymose ones. Additionally, the geographical distribution of the three species does not overlap.

Graptopetalum ‘Victor Kane’

Graptopetalum ‘Victor Kane’ is a cute succulent that forms compact rosettes of fleshy leaves with a powdery coating and lovely pastel coloration. In older plants, much of the basal leaves will drop off, leaving the bare stems. The rosettes grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. Flowers are small, star-shaped, and white with red flecks. The colors of the leaves and the intensity of the red flecks inside the petals can vary considerably more or less depending on seasons and light.

This succulent is often mistaken for the similar hybrid Graptopetalum ‘Purple Haze’. G. ‘Victor Kane’ has thicker leaves with a matte surface and the red flecks on the petals are wider and more pronounced. However, there are seasons where these two hybrids are impossible to tell apart and seasons when the difference is more obvious.

How to Care for Graptopetalum Succulents

Let’s take a look at some specific care conditions required for Graptopetalum succulents.

Light

It is important to place a Graptopetalum plant under bright sunlight. You should give it several hours of daily sunlight either outdoors or indoors. You can find a good spot on a balcony or windowsill for it.

The plant can also survive well if it receives plenty of shade or a good combination of sunlight and shade. There might, however, be a few differences in color depending on how much light it receives.

Hot climates generally work well for these plants. However, they can also withstand the cold well up to a certain extent. They normally grow in USDA zone 7b to 9a, sometimes even more.

Watering

You can water your Graptopetalum plants once a week if you are growing them outdoors. If you are growing them indoors, you do not need to water them as much due to slightly lower temperatures inside the house.

Make sure you let the soil become dry enough before you water the plant again. Do not overwater it as this can cause swelling and root rot, inhibiting its healthy growth.

Additionally, the climate that you live in can also affect the water requirements. You should water lesser if the climate is humid. You can also reduce watering during winters to once every two or three weeks.

Related Post:
How Often to Water Succulents

Soil

You should use porous or well-draining soil for these succulents to prevent water from collecting in the soil. You can either buy a soil mix from the store or make it yourself by combining potting soil with some perlite, sand, peat and compost.

You should ensure that you make the soil as loose and coarse as possible if you live in humid regions that receive lots of rainfall so that the water can drain out. In case you are planting these succulents, then slightly raising the plant bed can help.

Related Post:
Best Soil for Succulents in Pots

Fertilizing

Succulents like the Graptopetalum can grow well even without fertilizers. However, you can add a small amount of fertilizer once during the growing season so that you can boost the growth.

You must ensure that you dilute the fertilizer quite a bit as its strength could otherwise damage the plant. Natural methods such as compost can also be enough in most cases if you do not want to fertilize.

Related Post:
Best Fertilizer for Succulents

Pests and Diseases

Common pests and diseases associated with these succulents mainly include mealybugs that could affect various parts of the plant. You can spot them early on and get rid of them using pesticides or rubbing alcohol.

Apart from that, you should try to avoid swelling that can arise from overwatering and overfertilizing.

How to Propagate Graptopetalum Succulents

You can propagate these succulents either through seeds or using leaves or cuttings. Go through the following steps to figure out the process in detail.

• If you are using leaves or cuttings, ensure that you cut them from a mature plant. Keep some of the roots intact with the leaf clusters.
• You should let the stem cuttings or leaf clusters rest and dry for a few days so that they can become ready for planting. The cuttings might swell up a bit as well.
• You should now prepare a pot or container and fill it with the soil mix.
• Sow the seeds, leaves or cuttings into the soil.
• Lightly water the plant without overdoing it. Keeping the soil moist enough will be sufficient in the beginning.
• For the leaves and cuttings, the roots will grow out within a couple of weeks and develop into tiny plants. The seeds might take a bit longer than that to germinate.
• You can then go on to carry out the regular care requirements.
• Once the plant grows big enough, you can repot it carefully into a larger container.

FAQs

Is Graptopetalum Cold Hardy?

Graptopetalum is cold-hardy up to a certain extent and can withstand a bit of frost as well. However, beyond a certain point, it might not be able to withstand extremely cold conditions. If you live in a climate where the winters become too cold, then it would be better to shift the plant indoors.

These plants can stand up to -10℃.

How Big Do Graptopetalum Grow?

These plants can grow up to 12-20 inches in width as long as they are given a large enough space. In terms of their height, they can grow 6-12 inches tall. If you are growing them at home in a pot, then their size will be restricted to the size of the pot.