🌱 Morphology

Compact succulent plant that forms symmetrical rosettes up to about 12 cm in diameter. Its leaves are fleshy, firm, and slightly elongated, with a rounded or softly pointed tip. They have a blue-grey or glaucous green hue, with a characteristic reddish mottling that is irregularly distributed over the surface. The waxy farina gives it a whitish and pearlescent finish, responsible for the name ‘Nacre’, which means mother-of-pearl in French. Under intense lighting, the pink and reddish tones can be accentuated.

🌍 Origin, genealogy and family

Ornamental cultivar created in 2019 by C. Camassel (PGF), in France. It has been published as a hybrid of Echeveria purpusorum × Echeveria sp. Some suggest that the second parent is Echeveria subcorymbosa ‘Lau’, although this more specific genealogy is not confirmed by a primary reference. Its mottled appearance is reminiscent of E. purpusorum, one of the attributed parents.

Family: Crassulaceae. Subfamily: Sempervivoideae. Tribe: Sedeae. Subtribe: Sedinae.

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 9b

It tolerates minimum temperatures close to −2 °C if the substrate remains dry and the exposure to cold is brief. As a climatic reference, it is located in USDA zone 9b, but the limit of this zone should not be interpreted as a guarantee of resistance. It is recommended to protect it from frost and preferably keep it above 5 °C during the winter.

☀️ Lighting

It needs abundant lighting to maintain the compact shape of the rosette and develop the characteristic reddish mottling. A very bright exposure, with soft morning or late afternoon sun is recommended. In summer, it is advisable to protect it from the most intense midday radiation to avoid burns. As a guideline, a PAR DLI of 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ favors good coloration, always with gradual acclimatization.

💧 Growth cycle and watering

Winter dormancy. Growth is usually more active during the mild seasons, especially in spring and autumn. During those periods, it is recommended to water thoroughly and let the substrate dry out completely before repeating. During the summer, watering is spaced out if temperatures are high and the plant slows down its activity. In winter, the water supply is considerably reduced, especially when kept in a cool environment. Water should be prevented from collecting in the center of the rosette.

🌸 Flowering

It can produce lateral inflorescences that rise above the rosette and present bell-shaped flowers, with orange or pink hues, characteristic of the genus. I have not found a sufficiently reliable specific description of the flowering of this cultivar.

🌿 Nutrition

It is recommended to use Desert CHOICE® Succulents, applied in moderate doses during the active growth period. It is advisable to avoid excess nitrogen to keep the rosette compact and promote the development of firm and well-pigmented leaves.

Gourmet black pot of 10x10 cm

This is an inimitable xerophyte cultivated in Madrid in a technological square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.