by Jennifer
(Prescott Valley, AZ, USA)
I just got this succulent at the grocery store. It looks like it has variegated coloring. It is next to a small jade plant (I believe that one is a Crosby’s Compact Jade) for size comparison.
The mystery succulent is nearly white and has some green and pink in it.
I don’t think it’s a jade because the new leaves come out in a swirl instead of in pairs like the jades do. I am keeping it indoors but just bought it today. I was told it was grown in a hot-house.
The leaves are kind of brittle and break easily like a christmas cactus. They are not flexible like a jade. The edges of the leaves are uneven and not smooth.
I mainly want to know what the species is and if it needs direct sunlight or indirect.
Thanks so much for your help!
Jennnifer
Hi Jennifer, I was leaning towards some kind of variegated Crassula, but Trina has offered some other options in the comments.
Jacki
Comments for whitish succulent with broad flatish leaves
Jul 20, 2013
flatish leaves
by: Anonymous
Wow! At a grocery store?! It’s an echeveria flying cloud. A collector’s item.
I couldn’t find anything under this name; there is Echeveria ‘Misty Cloud’…
Keep looking!
Jacki
Jul 20, 2013
Flatish leaves
by: Trina
I forgot to type in my name. S0 sorry about that. I also have been trying to reply back at least 3 times but spambot won’t let me in :). The plant’s actual name I was told is echeveria gibbiflora metallica variegate decora or simply “echeveria decora”. It is a pricey echeveria in the USA so I was surprised to learn that it came from a grocery store. I guess many growers have propagated this succulent to now be found in a grocery store. What a catch!
Hi Trina – I wondered who that was! The Captcha Graphic must be having an issue, sorry about that. I’ll have to do a search for your species, and move the post to the right place! Thanks for persisting!
Jacki
Aug 17, 2013
Echeveria decora
by: Jennifer
Wow! So I have an even more special plant than I thought I had. I looked up “Echeveria Decora” online and it is indeed what it is. I bought it for about 5 or 6 dollars at a Safeway supermarket. Do you know how much it is really worth to a collector? Is it worth more when it’s larger?
Aug 26, 2013
correction
by: Jennifer
Just wanted to add that the jade plant in the photo is not a Crosby’s Compact like I had previously thought. Now, I’m pretty sure it’s a red tipped jade.
May 22, 2015
Ech. Decora
by: Mary
I have a Decora and it seems to be quite a slow grower. It is very pretty though with whitish and pinkish mottled leaves.
May 22, 2015
Update
by: Jennifer
Well, that decora plant ended up dying after a few months. The leaves one by one got soft and brown and I would clip them off. The plant also got leggy and I had to prune off the top.
Tried rooting the clipping but was unsuccessful. It just looked horrible and was doing so badly so I ended up throwing it out. Oh, well.
The jade plant, on the other hand, is doing really well. It’s 3 times the size and I’ve propagated numerous other plants from the clippings when I have to prune it back. (I live in a small apartment and don’t have room for a big plant.)
So, sort of a happy ending, right? 🙂
May 22, 2015
Thanks for the update
by: Jacki
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, plants die. Stick with what is successful!
