5 Special Graptosedum Varieties [With Pictures]

Graptosedum succulents are interspecific hybrids between two different genera in the Crassulaceae family: Graptopetalum and Sedum. At first glance, these two genera don’t seem to belong together, but their hybrids are gorgeous. With thick leaves, dramatic colors and long stems, it’s hard not to adore these special plants. In some nurseries, this plant is referred to as x Graptosedum. Its ‘x’ name indicates it is a hybrid plant.

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Graptosedum Varieties

Graptosedum ‘Alpenglow’

Graptosedum Alpenglow, likely a hybrid of Graptopetalum paraguayense x Sedum stahlii, is also known as Graptosedum Bronze or Graptosedum Vera Higgins. It has brilliant pink leaves, shading from light rose to deep coral.

The stems can grow long and start to bend and trail, with leaves growing on the full length of the stems. It is a strong grower that can eventually form thick clusters in a range of sunset tones.

Graptosedum ‘Blue Giant’

Graptosedum Blue Giant is an intergeneric hybrid resulting from the supposed cross between Graptopetalum amethystinum and Sedum treleasei with a striking blue tone. It grows long, thick stems that bend and sprawl as they develop.

Exposure to the bright sun can cause a peachy blush at the leaf tips. The foliage has a powdery coating of epicuticular wax (farina). It can send up a tall bloom stalk of numerous tiny, yellow flowers.

Graptosedum ‘California Sunset’

Graptosedum California Sunset is a cross of Graptopetalum paraguayense x Sedum adolphii and is also known as Graptosedum Peach Blossom. It features a stemmed rosette with a pastel green center and peachy pink leaf tips.

Its pink coloration is most vibrant under slight stress from bright sunlight, infrequent watering, or cool temperatures around 50°F (10°C). Look for clusters of white, star-shaped blossoms in the spring.

Graptosedum ‘Francesco Baldi’

Graptosedum Francesco Baldi is a beautiful interspecific hybrid between two different Mexican species in the Crassulaceae family: Graptopetalum paraguayense and Sedum pachyphyllum. It inherited the pink coloration of the first and the leaf shape from the Sedum.

It is a heavy bloomer, the yellow flowers are numerous and produced more readily than in many other species. Like many succulents, colors change in seasons.

Graptosedum ‘Ghosty’

Graptosedum Ghosty is a succulent that has a distinct appearance due to its red leaves. The rosettes grow from the base and have a bunch of leaves that grow upward. These leaves are faded green in color. The leaves are thick and wide in between, with a tip at the top.

How To Care For Graptosedum Succulents

Light

Graptosedum varieties require a substantial amount of light in order to thrive. They should receive at least four to five hours of bright, direct light on a daily basis. Placing your plant outdoors during the summer months will help it to thrive.

Graptosedum varieties that do not receive enough light will become elongated and leggy, often ‘reaching’ toward the closest light source. It is also unlikely that they will flower. If you have your plant on a windowsill, turn the plant occasionally to ensure that all sides of your plant get enough sun.

On the other hand, too many hours of intense, direct sunlight can result in sunburn.

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Watering

Graptosedum varieties, like most succulents, do not require much water as they store water in their fleshy leaves. Wait until the soil has dried out completely before watering your plant, and then give it a good watering, making sure the excess water drains out from the pot.

If you water too much or too little, your Graptosedum succulent will start to wilt, wrinkle, or drop leaves. However, it is better to err on the side of under-watering, as they can quickly succumb to root rot if overwatered. With that in mind, Graptosedum should never be kept in damp soil.

When watering Graptosedum varieties, always water the soil directly and avoid allowing water to sit on the rosette of the succulent as this can lead to rot and fungal disease.

During the spring and summer, this succulent will need to be watered more frequently than it will in the winter.

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Soil

Graptosedum succulent varieties require a well-draining, porous growing medium to help keep excess moisture away from the roots. Standard soil for cactus potting is sufficient for this succulent, which can be found at most nurseries and garden centers.

If growing in containers, make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom to allow water to drain from the soil. Soil that is constantly damp or doesn’t drain well will result in root rot.

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Climate

Graptosedum varieties thrive in hot, dry conditions. For the most part, they do not tolerate cold temperatures or cold drafts well and too much humidity can lead to root rot. Graptosedum varieties grow well indoors in average room conditions with around 40% – 50% humidity.

During the spring and summer months, your indoor Graptosedum succulent needs temperatures of between 65 and 80°F (18 – 27°C). During the winter, a few degrees lower will be ideal. Outdoors, this succulent loves warm summers of at least 19°C or 20°C.

Fertilizing

Generally, fertilizing is not a requirement for Graptosedum varieties as they are accustomed to growing in nutrient-poor soil, which makes them susceptible to fertilizer burn if over-fertilized.

However, if you want to encourage healthy growth, you can use a cactus or succulent fertilizer or low-nitrogen mix that has been diluted 3 or 4 times more than the recommended dose.

Only feed a small amount every 2 or 3 weeks during the spring and summer months which is their active growing period.

Potting and Repotting

When choosing a pot or container to grow a Graptosedum in, it is important to choose the right size. As a rule of thumb for all succulents, choose a pot that is slightly larger than the root ball. This helps to ensure the soil doesn’t stay too damp.

Graptosedum varieties do not require frequent repotting and should only be repotted once they have outgrown their previous container. To repot a Graptosedum succulent, ensure that the soil is completely dry before removing it from its potting container. Repotting in the spring is usually recommended as the plant will be entering into its active growing period.

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How To Propagate Graptosedum Varieties

Graptosedum varieties propagate mainly through offsets, leaf cuttings, and seeds. A mature plant will produce offsets from its main stem, which can be separated and propagated as a separate plant. Alternatively, it can be propagated through leaf cuttings.

If the succulent has already formed several rosettes, it is particularly easy to propagate. All you have to do is cut off the rosettes. The offshoots should be at least two centimeters in diameter.

The best time to cut off the rosettes is May. Dig up the plant, shake off the substrate and pluck apart the individual rosettes. Then plant them again separately.

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.

Then, 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.