Family: Crassulaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Graptopetalum paraguayense, or ghost plant/mother-of-pearl plant, is a succulent from northern Mexico. Its thick, pale gray-blue leaves form rosettes with a pearly sheen, and it produces small star-shaped flowers in spring. Easy to grow and propagate, it’s popular in gardens and indoor collections for its drought tolerance and unique look.

Risks & Threats
This species is low-risk in Hawaii. It spreads slowly and stays mostly in gardens, posing little to no threat to native ecosystems, making it a safe and attractive choice for gardeners.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized outside native range (Australia, Portugal)
  
• Broad climate versatility (USDA zones 7b–11)
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Reproduces vegetatively (leaves/stems root easily)
  
• Minimum generation time: 1 year
  
• Dispersed intentionally by people (widely cultivated)

Low Risk Traits:

• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Non-toxic to humans or animals
  
• No fire hazard
  
• No smothering or dense thickets
  
• No weediness reported (agricultural/environmental)
  
• Limited seed production (rarely flowers in some regions)
  
• No evidence of seed bank or prolific seeding