The “Painted Lady Echeveria” known botanically as Echeveria derenbergii (ech-eh-VER-ee-a der-en-BERG-ee-eye) is a perennial evergreen succulent.
There are about 140 different Echeveria species, all belonging to the Crassulaceae (krass-yoo-LAY-see-ee) family made up of about 1400 species.
Members of this family grow in one iteration or another around the world.
All Echeveria are natives of the mid-to-high elevations throughout the Americas. They mainly hail from Mexico and Central America. Details on Echeveria care here.
Even so, some types of Echeveria grow naturally in the United States aka southern Texas, and a few are native to areas as far south as Peru and Bolivia.
Echevarria derenbergii is a native of Mexico.
It’s common names include:
- Painted Lady Echeveria
- Baby Echeveria
- Derenbergii blue
- Painted Echeveria
How To Care For Echeveria Derenbergii
Plant Size and Growth
The Echeveria Painted Lady plant reaches an ultimate height of 12” inches. It may spread 1- ½’ to 3 feet in a period of about 2 to 5 years.
Flowering and Fragrance
Painted Echeveria produces one-sided racemes or panicles of cup or urn-shaped yellow flowers and shades of red.
In late winter derenbergii sends up pink-red stems where yellow flowers appear early in the spring and may continue throughout the summer.
Foliage
Echeveria Derenbergii blue has a rosette growth habit, fleshy leaves with whitish green blunt-edged triangles. Rosettes may be as wide as 3” inches with red tips and edges.
Light and Temperature
Echeverias enjoy full sun and appreciate the bright light in a north, east or south sunny facing window when kept as houseplants.
Outdoors, plant in a sheltered area with bright light and protected from freezing. These succulents are hardy to temperatures as low as 15° – 20° degrees Fahrenheit.
Watering and Feeding
Like all Echeverias, Painted Lady plants have very low water needs.
In areas where the plant is winter hardy, once established the plant may get by with just natural rainfall.
As with most succulents, it is best to water completely and then allow the soil to dry thoroughly before watering again.
Check out this article to Learn How To Water Your Echeveria Plants.
If you wish to fertilize, use a low liquid nitrogen fertilizer at half-strength once every two weeks during the growing season.
Do not fertilize or water in the winter.
Soil and Transplanting
The succulent Painted Lady appreciates a pot with a drainage hole and a well-draining soil consisting mostly of sand and loam.
It is forgiving of a wide range of pH levels, and can do well in acidic, alkaline or neutral soil.
Grooming and Maintenance
Pluck off damaged, diseased or dead leaves as needed. Clip off the flower stalks after blooming is complete.
Otherwise, no grooming is needed.
Propagating Echeveria Derenbergii
Propagate Painted Lady Echeveria by leaf cuttings or stem cuttings early in the springtime or the early summer.
In springtime, Echeveria Derenbergii may produce offsets that you can separate and pot or plant independently.
Echeveria Pests and Diseases
If not over watered, Echeveria Derenbergii are almost disease-free.
If overwatered, your plants may be bothered by leaf, root rot and other fungal type diseases.
Learn more about Echeveria plant pests and diseases.
Compromised plants are subject to attacks from aphids, vine weevils and mealybugs.
Is Derenbergii Painted Lady Toxic?
All types of Echeveria contain saponins which may cause mild toxicity in pets and people.
Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and nausea if ingested.
Is The Painted Lady Echeveria Considered Invasive?
The slow growing plant Echeveria Derenbergii is not considered invasive, even in areas where it grows well outside year-round.
Uses For Painted Derenbergii
Derenbergii Painted Lady Echeveria makes an excellent window garden succulent houseplant, or as a patio or container plant.
If kept as a houseplant, it will appreciate being kept outside in bright light during the spring and the summer.
Like all Echeverias, the Echeveria Derenbergii Painted Lady is an excellent choice for xeriscaping, rock gardens, and other low water settings.