Echeveria - Lovely and Drought Tolerant Tender Succulents
Echeveria are native to Mexico and South America, and when the succulent craze started a few years ago, I started seeing these unique and beautiful rosette forming succulents in all kinds of places.
They require well drained soil - this means a drain hole in the pot, and a mixture of gravel and potting soil, or specially customized cactus soil is best. Echeveria resent any lime in the soil, so avoid that in your soil mix.
As the leaves generally have pruinose, or a white waxy or powdery coating, I recommend using distilled water, or captured rainwater, which doesn't have any minerals or calcium in it, which can mar the foliage. Avoid handing the leaves, because that removes the 'bloom' and although it does grow back in time, it can be a problem if the plant is in full sun as this is the protective sun screen.
The flowers of Echeveria are fascinating; first a long stalk unfurls from the center of the rosette, and in some cases can reach almost 2' tall. Pink, coral or red bells dangle from the stalk, opening in sequence over two weeks or longer. Once the flowers fade, the bloom stalk can be cut off, and it will bloom again next year.
In some cases, the main stem of the plant will start to lose the lower leaves, while the rosette continues to grow taller and taller. The lower part of the stem becomes bare, and the plant resembles nothing so much as a palm tree; when it gets like this, it's time to 'behead' it and remake it into a brand new rosette.
They require well drained soil - this means a drain hole in the pot, and a mixture of gravel and potting soil, or specially customized cactus soil is best. Echeveria resent any lime in the soil, so avoid that in your soil mix.
As the leaves generally have pruinose, or a white waxy or powdery coating, I recommend using distilled water, or captured rainwater, which doesn't have any minerals or calcium in it, which can mar the foliage. Avoid handing the leaves, because that removes the 'bloom' and although it does grow back in time, it can be a problem if the plant is in full sun as this is the protective sun screen.
The flowers of Echeveria are fascinating; first a long stalk unfurls from the center of the rosette, and in some cases can reach almost 2' tall. Pink, coral or red bells dangle from the stalk, opening in sequence over two weeks or longer. Once the flowers fade, the bloom stalk can be cut off, and it will bloom again next year.
In some cases, the main stem of the plant will start to lose the lower leaves, while the rosette continues to grow taller and taller. The lower part of the stem becomes bare, and the plant resembles nothing so much as a palm tree; when it gets like this, it's time to 'behead' it and remake it into a brand new rosette.
Echeveria 'Curlylocks' is a beautiful variety with frilled edges. The palest greeny blue color is set off by a fine pink outline.
Echeveria glauca, one of the most well known of all species.
Echeveria 'Pallida' with pale apple green foliage with a translucent appearance.
Echeveria 'Paul Bunyan' is one of the most intriguing of all the named varieties - the carunculations or warty protuberances are a prized characteristic.
Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg' is one of the most popular varieties, for good reason with it's pretty and distinctive mauve tones on the upright foliage.
Echeveria 'Green Velvet' shows the fuzzy side of the genus; not all of them rely on the pruinose for protection from the sun. Some have hairy leaves instead.
Echeveria set-oliver is one of the fuzzy types, and a cross between E. setosa and E. pulvinata.
The foliage isn't the only appealing trait; the flowers of many species and varieties are spectacular; this is E. runyonii 'Topsy Turvy'.
Echeveria shaviana is spectacular in bloom, which crowns the lovely frilly foliage with tall bloom stalks.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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4 of 41 comments
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very interesting. Thx
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My mother had what she called Live Forever.It is not hard to grow.It looks like the Pallida picture.We live in W.Va. so I doubt if is the same.In the fall it gets flowers on it.Right now they are pink.But they will change again.At first the flowers are green.
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