[1] Fairly popular in cultivation, it is native to Mexico, where it is widely-distributed, and rather common, in northern Oaxaca and southern Puebla.

[2] It is known for its striped, purplish leaves, its "knobby" stems (hence the name nodulosa), and its seasonal display of flowers.

They are relatively disease-free, but, like all succulents, may attract scale insects or mealybugs, which are drawn to the tight crevices and folds between the leaves.

Pests are easily washed-off with a gentle spray of water or removed by hand, or sprayed with diluted rubbing or isopropyl alcohol, preferably during the early evening; wet leaves exposed to sunlight can cause leaf burn (especially with rubbing alcohol or other chemicals).

Echeveria is named for Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy, a botanical illustrator who contributed to Flora Mexicana.