10 Most Popular Types of Echeveria

By
Cori Sears
Cori sitting on a green chair against a white wall.
Cori Sears

Cori Sears is a writer with over a decade of experience, specializing in houseplants, gardening, and home decor. She writes about trending news, interior design, houseplants, and gardening for The Spruce. Her expertise in these areas has led her to contribute to other major publications including Better Homes and Gardens and Apartment Therapy.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 01/18/21
Several types of echeveria on a white table

 The Spruce / Cori Sears

Echeveria is a genus of flower-shaped evergreen succulents native to the mountain ranges of Central America and South America. They come in a variety of stunning shapes and colors and are widely regarded as some of the most beautiful succulents. Echeverias are also some of the most prolific succulents, reblooming several times a year (under the right growing conditions) with orange, yellow, and red flowers. They're popular among florists, interior decorators, wedding planners, gardeners, and houseplant enthusiasts alike.

Succulents are some of the easiest plants to care for as they require very little attention, making them great for gardeners of all skill levels. These versatile plants can tolerate growing both indoors and outdoors, although most are not frost-tolerant. As with most succulents, echeverias require bright light, infrequent watering, and well-draining soil in order to thrive.

Echeveria is a large genus, with approximately 150 species and more than 1,000 cultivars. Among these are several varieties that are especially beloved due to their attractive appearance and easy care.

Here are 10 of the most popular echeveria varieties, all of which can be grown as houseplants.

Gardening Tip

When watering echeveria plants, always water the soil directly and avoid allowing water to sit on the rosette of the succulent, which can lead to rot and fungal disease.

  • 01 of 10

    'Perle Von Nurnberg' (Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg')

    'Perle von Nurnberg' echeveria with purplish-blue leaves

    Arkela / Getty Images

    'Perle Von Nurnberg' is arguably the most popular type of echeveria, distinguished by a solitary rosette of paddle-shaped, pastel leaves with a dusty appearance. In lower light, the leaves are a muted grayish color but turn bright purple and pink in direct sun. It enjoys bright light; infrequent watering; and sandy, well-drained soil. 'Perle Von Nurnberg' is often featured in floral arrangements, container gardens, and wedding bouquets thanks to its striking colors.

    • Native Area: Central America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 10–11
    • Height: Up to 5 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
  • 02 of 10

    Painted Echeveria (Echeveria nodulosa)

    Painted echeveria with reddish-purple leaves

    shihina / Getty Images

    Echeveria nodulosa, commonly known as painted echeveria, is an unusual-looking echeveria distinguished by green leaves with vertical red stripes. This type requires plenty of sun and well-draining soil to thrive. It should be watered only once the soil has dried out completely because too much water can quickly lead to root rot. Unlike many other smaller echeverias, E. nodulosa can grow stems up to 2 feet high, with rosettes reaching up to 5 inches in diameter.

    • Native Area: Central America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 9–11
    • Height: Up to 2 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
  • 03 of 10

    Black Hens and Chicks (Echeveria 'Black Prince')

    Black Hens and Chick echeveria with dark leaves

    Satakorn / Getty Images

    Commonly referred to as black hens and chicks, 'Black Prince' is a slow-growing hybrid variety characterized by dark, purple-brown, triangular leaves. It grows in tight rosettes up to 3 inches wide. This echeveria type readily produces offsets (chicks) that start out light green and darken with maturity. In the fall and winter, 'Black Prince' produces dark red flowers that emerge on tall stalks. To keep its vivid color, it requires regular exposure to direct sun, and, like most echeverias, it appreciates infrequent watering and well-draining soil.

    • Native Area: Central America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 9–11
    • Height: Up to 6 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
  • 04 of 10

    'Topsy Turvy' (Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy')

    'Topsy Turvy' echeveria with green leaves

    TokioMarineLife / Getty Images

    'Topsy Turvy' is another unusual-looking succulent, featuring spoon-shaped, blue-green leaves that roll downward along their length, giving them a curved appearance. This fast-growing echeveria variety requires well-drained soil, infrequent watering, and dry conditions to thrive. It can grow both indoors and outdoors but will only do well outdoors in warm climates (note that 'Topsy Turvy' is deer-resistant). Thanks to its unique appearance and growing requirements, this cultivar won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the United Kingdom's Royal Horticultural Society.

    • Native Area: Central America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 9–11
    • Height: 8–12 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05 of 10

    'Dusty Rose' (Echeveria 'Dusty Rose')

    'Dusty Rose' echeveria with violet leaves

    Gingagi / Getty Images

    'Dusty Rose,' a popular hybrid characterized by powdery violet rosettes, can flower multiple times throughout the year and sports bright orange flowers that emerge on tall stalks. Each rosette can grow up to 8 inches in diameter in ideal conditions; it requires full sun; infrequent watering; and sandy, well-draining soil. But, as a hybrid, 'Dusty Rose' is less frost-tolerant than most types of echeveria.

    • Native Area: Central America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 10–11
    • Height: Up to 6 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
  • 06 of 10

    Mexican Snowball, Hens and Chicks (Echeveria elegans)

    Mexican Snowball or Hens and Chicks echeveria with blue-green leaves

    stephen boisvert / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

    Echeveria elegans, one of the most popular species, is commonly called Mexican snowball or hens and chicks (though it shouldn't be confused with Sempervivum tectorum, which is also known by that common name). This succulent has bluish-gray leaves that form tight rosettes. It does well grown both indoors and outdoors and is easily propagated through leaf cuttings as well as separating offsets (chicks) from the main plant.

    • Native Area: Central America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 9–11
    • Height: Up to 8 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
  • 07 of 10

    Woolly Rose (Echeveria 'Doris Taylor')

    Woolly rose echeveria with fuzzy green leaves

    Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

    Green fuzzy leaves give Echeveria 'Doris Taylor' its common name, woolly rose. Unlike most of its echeveria relatives, this popular hybrid appreciates filtered sunlight and only a few hours of direct sun per day. Propagation also takes longer with fuzzy-leafed varieties, so exercise patience if you're attempting to propagate this one.

    • Native Area: Central America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 9–11
    • Height: 3–5 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Filtered, Partial
  • 08 of 10

    'Neon Breakers' (Echeveria 'Neon Breakers')

    'Neon Breakers' echeveria with ruffled, pink-tinged leaves

    cultivar413/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

    In direct sunlight, the purple leaves with pink ruffled edges get brighter on 'Neon Breakers,' an evergreen echeveria hybrid. It grows well outdoors as well as in container gardens, reaching up to 3 inches in diameter; it can also be grown indoors as a houseplant if adequate light is provided. As with most echeverias, 'Neon Breakers' doesn't tolerate overwatering or frost. Be sure to plant this succulent in well-draining, sandy soil for best results, and move it inside during the winter if you live in a colder climate.

    • Native Area: Central America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 10–11
    • Height: 3 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    'Tippy' (Echeveria 'Tippy')

    'Tippy' echeveria with pink-tipped green leaves

    Nora Carol Photography / Getty Images

    This echeveria type is characterized by green-blue, spoon-shaped leaves with prominent pink tips that grow in a tight rosette, which can reach up to 6 inches in diameter. 'Tippy' propagates easily through leaf cuttings and offsets and grows well in sandy, well-draining soil. It flowers in the summer, producing stunning orange blooms sought after by hummingbirds.

    • Native Area: Central America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 10–11
    • Height: 6 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
  • 10 of 10

    Ghost Echeveria (Echeveria lilacina)

    Ghost echeveria with silvery leaves

    Jean-Michel Moulle/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

    Ghost echeveria, formally known as Echeveria lilacina, is an elegant species characterized by silvery-gray, spoon-shaped leaves. It does best in part shade because the delicate leaves can easily burn if exposed to too much direct sun, especially in hot climates. During the cooler months, ghost echeveria can take on a more lilac hue. Water sparingly, and plant in well-draining, sandy soil.

    • Native Area: Central America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 9–11
    • Height: 6–10 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Partial; will tolerate full sun

Overall, echeverias are attractive succulents that make great additions to gardens, houseplant collections, and container gardens alike. Not only do they add a tropical flair, but they're easy to maintain and propagate. Give them lots of sun, a little bit of water, and well-draining soil, and you'll have healthy echeverias that'll reward you with stunning colors and flowers.

How to Grow Echeveria Succulents