Your Container Gardens Need an Echeveria ‘Black Prince’
If you’re tired of green succulents and would like to add some variety to your gardens, containers, and windowsill gardens, look to the evergreen succulent Echeveria ‘Black Prince’. This succulent produces clumps of rosettes with pointed leaves; its foliage usually appears black or deep purple in hue, but it also comes in shades ranging from deep green, red, and purple to dark brown and charcoal. Even the darkest leaves often fade to bright green at the base where the plant meets the soil.
During its blooming seasons, the succulent produces showy, bright red flowers, which are just as eye-catching as the dramatic foliage and actually look even more striking when borne in contrast with the dark leaves. This succulent is descended from Echeveria shaviana and Echeveria affinis, the latter of which has black or dark purple leaves. In the right conditions, the plant can grow up to 6 inches tall and 8 inches wide.
These succulents are both tolerant of drought and low maintenance to grow, which makes them great plantings for beginner or laissez-faire gardeners. Echeveria ‘Black Prince’ thrives in full sun to partial shade and, once established, needs watering only occasionally. Overwatering can be an issue with succulents, so be sure to only add moisture when the soil is fully drained and dry to the touch. If planted indoors, provide the succulent with bright light. It can thrive even in difficult soils, so rocky and sandy soil is just fine, as long as there is plenty of drainage. Try a succulent soil mix for optimal growing conditions.
For more information on succulent container gardening, check out How To Plant Succulents in Containers, One Thing I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Started a Succulent Garden, and a beginner course, courtesy of The Grumpy Gardener, in Succulents 101.
WATCH: How To Make A Succulent Container
What are your favorite types of succulents? Have you ever planted Echeveria ‘Black Prince’?
