Thank you as always for reading. Here at PUKUBOOK, we’re known as an online plant encyclopedia that brings you the latest and greatest—always chasing after new varieties. But today, let’s switch things up and spotlight some "long-standing classics that have been loved for years."
Exploring brand-new succulents is always exciting, but there’s something truly special about long-time favorites—their timeless appeal simply doesn’t fade. Plus, the fact that these standards are widely available and affordable is a major point in their favor. And don’t forget: even new cultivars are judged impressive *because* they've managed to surpass these established legends. That means to recognize a high-grade plant, you first have to know the classics! This time, we’ll dig into these enduring favorites and explore why they’ve stood the test of time.
Common Varieties
Let’s start with the varieties you can spot at any home improvement store.
桃太郎 'Momotaro' The quintessential Echeveria. The iconic succulent. Start your collection with this must-have!
ローラ 'Lola' As cute and feminine as its name sounds—both in form and in spirit. Lacks bold accent colors, sporting a nearly solid pastel tone all year. When it starts to shrink (like 'Shizuka'), it forms a perfectly round rosette that’s just adorable.
静夜 'Shizuka' One of 'Lola’s' parents. The very definition of a classic.
アルバビューティ 'Alba Beauty' This hybrid’s long, chunky, matte blue-gray leaves blush a delicate pink in winter—a real one-of-a-kind look.
アルバ美尼 'Alba-bini' Another elegant classic among hybrid Echeverias.
沙羅姫牡丹 'Sara-Himebotan' Short, purplish leaves, a densely layered and intricate rosette, and bold pointed tips. When I started growing succulents, this was a rare and valuable find—so it still feels special to me!
七福神 'Secunda' Near the top of the "seen in home gardens" leaderboard. This one has given rise to both 'Lenore Dean' and the variegated 'Imbricata.' A true celebrity plant deserving of celebration.
ロメオ 'Romeo' Born from a spontaneous mutation in a seed-grown Echeveria agavoides 'Corderoyi,' this master of accent color is pink year-round.
ロメオルビン 'Romeo Rubin' A selected form of 'Romeo.' The radiant red, glossy leaves add a sense of depth and richness: 'Rubin' means 'ruby' in German.
相府蓮 'Prolifela' A heavyweight among agavoides-type hybrids.
高砂の翁 'Takasagono-Okina' With a name as grand as its presence, this is the elder statesman of frilly echeverias. Its wavy leaves never go out of style—shifting from blue-gray to pink, it's perpetually cute.
ウエディングドレス 'Wedding Dress' An old frilly echeveria with surprisingly rare circulation—I only recently managed to welcome one home.
レモンローズ 'Lemon Rose' The standard color is actually hard to spot, since the variegated version is so much more common these days.
ピーチプリデ 'Peach Plide' With a velvety, light green round leaf, a hint of soft peachy-pink at the tips, and an adorable vibe worthy of the name "Peach."
アフターグロー 'Afterglow' A large variety that looks like a purple 'Cante.' Personally, I love this one.
Celebrities
You’re unlikely to spot these at your local store (a little pricier or rarer!) but they are cult classics you’ll want to know about.
カンテ 'Cante' It’s no exaggeration to say PUKUBOOK was made for this beauty...
「エケベリアの女王」の名をほしいままにする美しさ。名前はよく聞くし美しさも間違いないのですが、その姿を実際に見かける...
ラウイ 'Laui' The ultimate in white Echeverias.
メキシカンジャイアント 'Mexican Giant' The giant among Echeverias! They can even fill up a bucket-sized pot. While their immense size gets lots of attention, the white powdery, porcelain-smooth leaves are truly captivating.
ミニマ 'Minima' One of the tiniest echeverias. The name is well known, but healthy full-sized specimens are actually quite rare—maybe because they’re a challenge to grow?
スアベオレンス S.suaveolens Forms large rosettes that could pass for echeverias—and are, according to Mr. Hanakane's book "1000 Echeveria Species and Hybrids," the only sedum honored as beautiful enough to stand among them.
Variegated
レインボー 'Rainbow' Eye-catching colors, yet relatively affordable. Still, you probably won’t find it at the average home center.
Modern Standards
These newcomers have quickly earned their spots as the new staples, gaining popularity and being mass-produced—making them more and more familiar sights. Their place is well-deserved. Don’t hesitate if you see them out shopping!
ラズベリーアイス 'Raspberry Ice' An elegant new classic, with adorable, translucent leaves.
シムランス 'Simulans' A frilled-leaf elegance type. Once prized for looking different from regular Echeveria elegans, but now so established it’s becoming a standard in its own right.
アルバ 'Alba' Another of the elegance-types, this one especially famous for its white looks.
ホワイトロータス 'White Lotus' Pointy, refined, lily-like leaves with white powder and succulent thickness—elegant yet refreshingly fleshy. Grown at Air Magic Nursery in Korea.
シルエット 'Silhouette' Blue-gray leaves rimmed with pink, with glossy, pointy tips—such a cute hybrid! Introduced around 2022, but so complete it’s sure to become a classic.
Titanota
Even in the red-hot world of Agave titanota, some classics are a must-know!
ナンバーワン 'No.1' The very first titanota introduced to Japan.
チタノタ レッドキャットウィーズル 'Red Catweazle' The original "named titanota" craze starter. Nowadays you can even find it at garden centers.
Summary
Honestly, even for me, it’s not just about chasing the latest varieties—I'm always making sure I keep some classics in my collection, even varieties I may have cared for before. Maybe it’s because my growing skills have improved, but sometimes I discover a new side to an old favorite—an expression no one’s seen before—and realize there’s still so much more to love, even in the tried-and-true standards.
As I continue to discover new charms, I’ll be sure to share them with you. Stay tuned!
