Pachyphytum bracteosum
silver bracts
A compact perennial succulent, forming rosettes of short, rounded, fleshy silvery-grey leaves, that are sometimes flushed pink in strong light. In late spring and early summer, upright stems produce bright red flowers, almost completely enclosed in long silvery bracts
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Grey Silver Red | Grey Silver | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Grey Silver Red | Grey Silver Pink | ||
| Autumn | Grey Silver | |||
| Winter | Grey Silver |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Crassulaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
A small genus of rosette-forming succulent shrubs, native to Mexico, with thick, fleshy, almond-shaped green to purple leaves and bell-shaped greenish-white to dark red flowers which hang from spikey stems
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in sharply drained cactus compost in a greenhouse (minimum 5°C), or as a houseplant on a sunny windowsill. Water moderately while in growth and keep almost dry at other times. Apply a low-nitrogen fertiliser every 6-8 weeks in spring and summer. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for further information
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown at 19-24°C in spring, or by leaf cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Houseplants
- Patio and container plants
- Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to mealybugs when grown under glass
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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