Dark Vader Echeveria
Echeveria ‘Dark Vader’ · Garden hybrid
A bold, dramatic echeveria with deep burgundy to near-black rosettes — among the darkest in the succulent world. A striking focal point, and pet-friendly to boot.
Available in 4½ inchCare
Light
Thrives in bright, indirect to direct light. The dark color intensifies the more sun it receives; in low light the rosette greens up and stretches.
Water
Water only when the soil is completely dry. It stores moisture in its fleshy leaves and is highly drought-tolerant — use a pot with good drainage to avoid root rot.
Soil & Feeding
Use a well-draining cactus or succulent soil, and fertilize lightly once a month during spring and summer.
Quick Tip
Water at the soil line rather than into the rosette — water pooling in the center can cause rot.
Details
This bold cultivar forms compact rosettes of deep burgundy to near-black leaves with contrasting lighter edges. The dark coloration intensifies in bright light, making it a dramatic focal point in any collection.
- ✅ Dramatic near-black color
- ✅ Color intensifies in bright light
- ✅ Easy-care, drought-tolerant, and low maintenance
Size
Available in a 4½ inch pot — a great starter size that’s easy to place on a windowsill, desk, or shelf, and simple to repot as it grows.
Good to Know
🐾 Non-toxic to humans and generally considered pet-safe — a great choice for households with pets and children.
Plant Bio
Echeveria ‘Dark Vader’ · a dark hybrid echeveria
Dark Vader is a cultivated hybrid echeveria, bred for one dramatic quality: color. Its parent species belong to Echeveria, the rosette succulents native to Mexico and Central America, but this selection was created in cultivation for its exceptionally dark foliage.
It forms compact rosettes of broad leaves in deep burgundy to near-black, often with slightly lighter or reddish edges that catch the light. The color is most intense in bright conditions — strong light darkens it further, while shade lets more green show through.
It stays a tidy size, offsets into clusters over time, and can send up arching stalks of bell-shaped flowers. The near-black coloring makes it a favorite as a bold focal point in arrangements.
Care is classic echeveria: bright light for the deepest color, gritty soil, and water only once the soil dries out.
What makes it special?
- Its near-black rosettes are among the darkest of any succulent.
- The dark color deepens further in strong light.
- Like other echeverias, it’s easy and pet-friendly.
Note: Echeverias are generally considered non-toxic and pet-safe, but are grown for ornament rather than eating. Water carefully — overwatering is the main risk.