Houston's favorite garden center devoted to Texas native plants and organic gardening.
Botanical name: Graptoveria ‘Fred Ives’
This variety is very drought tolerant, producing rosettes of pointed green leaves that are glazed with pink and purple ; distinctive salmon-coral flowers on stalks in spring; ideal for containers, indoors or out.
Other names: x Graptoveria, Graptopetalum x Echeveria
| Hardiness zone | 8b |
|---|---|
| Flower color | coral |
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | over mound |
| Mature height | 6 inches (10 inches with the flowers) |
| Spread | 8 inches |
| Light requirements | full sun to partial shade |
| Moisture requirements | dry to average |
| Plant origin | hybrid |
Fred Ives Graptoveria features unusual spikes of coral-pink tubular flowers with salmon overtones rising above the foliage from early to late spring. Its attractive succulent pointy leaves remain olive green in color with showy plum purple variegation and tinges of silver throughout the year. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Fred Ives Graptoveria is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Spreading
Fred Ives Graptoveria is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Mass Planting, Rock/Alpine Gardens, General Garden Use, Container Planting
Fred Ives Graptoveria will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 10 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 8 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 6 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
Fred Ives Graptoveria is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
Our Monthly To-Do List For Your Garden
