E. 'Perle von Nurnberg' a colorful echeveria

Echeverias are considered by many succulent collectors to be among the most beautiful. They're highly valued for their amazing colors and variation. Further to their credit, their colors are often the most brilliant in the cooler months, making them an excellent winter addition.

One of the most-sought-after varieties is E. 'Perle von Nurnberg.' This echeveria features a large rosette of acuminate leaves that are a milky blue with pronounced pink highlights. Gardeners will also notice a white powdery dusting, sometimes referred to as pruinose, adding to the plant's appeal. The leaves overlap neatly in 5- to 6-inch-wide solitary rosettes that eventually rise on a slender stem. The summer flowers (to one-half inch), appearing on arching, foot tall reddish-stemmed inflorescences, are a coral pink color with yellow throats. This variety is one of the more prolific echeverias, often sending up five or six flowering spikes in a year.

Echeverias are versatile plants. They can be featured in a decorative pot or included in a large mixed succulent container. For those in milder zones, tuck varieties of echeverias in dry garden beds with aloes and yuccas or include them in terraced beds with euphorbias, sedums or eriogonums. Given their winter presence, consider planting them near early flowering bulbs such as sparaxis, freesias, lachenalias and babianas. And of course they perform nicely in a well-lighted window. This echeveria would even make a wonderful gift.

Erle Nickel is a nurseryman, gardening writer and photographer who cares for a sprawling Oakland garden. E-mail him at home@sfchronicle.com and check out his blog at normsnursery.blogspot.com.

This article appeared on page M - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle