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Graptopetalum superbum (Beautiful Graptopetalum) - This succulent gem forms 5-inch-wide flat open rosettes with fleshy, thick pale gray-lavender to pink colored leaves that cluster in rosettes at the end of thick stems. Old plants have been noted with stems as long as 7 feet but more typically this plant remains fairly compact, especially when grown in full sun. In late winter to early spring arise the 1 to 2 foot tall, open multiple-branched inflorescences holding dainty flowers with pale yellow petals with red markings on the tips, and with red sigma lobes and stamens, which like Graptopetalum pentandrum number 5 while most other species of Graptopetalum have 10 stamens.
Plant in full sun to light shade. Water occasionally to frequently. Hardy to 25 F or less. This easy to grow and prolific plant makes a good landscape plant or container specimen or even a hanging plant when stems elongate.
Graptopetalum superbum was reportedly discovered in by Luis Avina who noted it in a garden in La Barca near Guadalajara in the Mexican State of Jalisco. It was described by Myron Kimnach in 1987 as a subspecies of Graptopetalum pentandrum but more recently has been elevated to full species status as Graptopetalum superbum. This plant was imported into cultivation in the US by the late Rick Nowakowski of Natures Curiosity Shop. The Huntington Botanic Garden acquired cuttings from Mr. Nowakowski (HBG 49307) and offered it through the International Succulent Institute (ISI) in 1986 as ISI 1661. The name for the Genus comes the Greek words 'graptos' meaning "marked" or "inscribed" and 'petalon' meaning "petals" for the markings on the flower petals of many of the species. The specific epithet is from the Latin word 'superb' meaning "very beautiful".
We also grow Graptopetalum pentandrum from which Graptopetalum pentandrum superbum differs from in having broader rosettes with longer and wider leaves that are a gray-violet color while Graptopetalum pentandrum has yellow-gray leaves blushed violet. The inflorescence of this species is much more intricately branched than Graptopetalum pentandrum (12-15 times vs 3-4) and the flowers are redder. A major genetic difference between the two is that Graptopetalum superbum is a tetraploid with 64 chromosomes while G. pentandrum is a diploid with 32. See our listing of Graptopetalum pentandrum for more about this other plant. We have grown Graptopetalum superbum since 2012.
Information displayed on this page about Graptopetalum superbum is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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