'Purple Beauty' forms rosettes about 3-4in wide with green leaves stunningly tipped in purple. The name of this genus was derived by Pliny from semper vivo and means, literally, live forever. Although each leaf rosette dies after flowering, there always seems to be an abundance of new offsets (the "chicks") to take its place. These fleshy, evergreen plants are invaluable, carefree elements for troughs, rock gardens, or wall crevices. They are content in average to poor soil as long as it is very well-drained and in full sun. It's hard to limit yourself to just one variety.