Echeveria ‘Melaco’ and Echeveria ‘Chroma’ are two different cultivars of Echeveria that often get confused for one another. Here are the main differences between the two and visuals so you will confidently be able to tell them apart the next time:
Echeveria ‘Melaco’
Appearance:
Echeveria ‘Melaco’ has a rosette shape with spoon-shaped leaves. The leaves are smooth, shiny, dark brownish-red with a green base, and the color deepens with more sunlight exposure. I find that with Echeveria ‘Melaco’ the color can vary widely depending on how much light it gets.
Size:
This variety typically grows up to 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) in diameter and can reach up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall when flowering.
Flowers:
Echeveria ‘Melaco’ produces bell-shaped, orange-red flowers on tall, arching stalks.
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Echeveria ‘Chroma’
Appearance:
Echeveria ‘Chroma’ has a rosette shape as well, but its leaves have a thin layer of farina giving it more of a matte finish. There’s a noticeable bevel in the middle of the leaves. The leaves display a striking mix of colors, including green, yellow and red hues, which can change and intensify depending on light exposure and growing conditions.
Size:
Echeveria ‘Chroma’ is slightly smaller than Echeveria ‘Melaco’.
Flowers:
Echeveria ‘Chroma’ produces coral pink flowers on short stalks.
In summary, the main differences between the two are basically everything – their leaf shape, coloration, and flower characteristics. While both plants have rosette shapes, Echeveria ‘Melaco’ has wavy, spoon-shaped leaves with a dark brownish-red color, and Echeveria ‘Chroma’ has more elongated, curled leaves with a mix of green, pink, purple, and blue hues. Additionally, their flowers differ in color and stalk length, with Echeveria ‘Melaco’ producing orange-red flowers on tall stalks and Echeveria ‘Chroma’ producing coral pink flowers on shorter stalks.
In terms of keeping them healthy, you’ll essentially care for these succulents them same as each other.
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