FEATURES/ORIGINFeatures/Origin

A charming and easy-to-grow succulent that forms clusters of compact, pale purple rosettes. Despite its widespread popularity and recognition, its origin remains a deepening mystery the more you look into it. Even PUKUBOOK, whose basic policy is "list any information, even tentative," ended up tossing in the towel and making a provisional page for "Awayuki" (laughs).

The prevailing theory is that it's a hybrid of Graptopetalum amethystinum G. amethystinum and Graptopetalum paraguayense (so the genus name is ~petalum), and this likely stems from the idea that 'Awayuki' is simply the Japanese name for Graptoveria 'Victor Kane' G. 'Victor Kane' . However, according to the ICN, 'Victor Kane' is most likely a hybrid with an Echeveria (which would make the genus name ~veria). It's described as having a rounded form and a charming flush of pink. Apparently, 'Victor Kane' is a naturally occurring hybrid.

Meanwhile, there’s also the idea that 'Awayuki' refers to Graptopetalum paraguayense ssp.bernalense G. paraguayense ssp.bernalense . It's said that 'Bernalense' looks almost identical to a "miniature Graptopetalum paraguayense," so there's plenty of debate. Since 'Bernalense' is a wild species and 'Victor Kane' is a hybrid, it's impossible for them to be the same—but both end up tied to the name "Awayuki."

There’s yet another theory that "Hatsuomoi" is the same species as "Awayuki," but this is still unconfirmed.

You'll come across varieties with names like "Beniawayuki" (Red Awayuki) or "Awayuki-nishiki" (Variegated Awayuki), but it’s unclear whether these are actually derived from 'Awayuki' itself. In fact, some say they’re different. According to a blog by Seikaen, the nursery that named "Beni-awayuki," both of these are sports from parent plants that are neither 'Hatsukoi' nor Graptopetalum paraguayense, and their research found that they are the same as "Debbie."

Graptoverias in general can have many different forms depending on the season or how they're grown, and they also tend to sport easily—so maybe it’s only natural that all kinds of types keep popping up, even within the same species.