echeveria

Echeveria
Echeveria elegans
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
(unranked):	eudicots
Order:	Saxifragales
Family:	Crassulaceae
Genus:	Echeveria DC.

Echeveria (pronounced /ˌɛkɨˈvɪəriə/)^[1] is a large genus of succulents in the Crassulaceae family, native from Mexico to northwestern South America. The genus is named after the 18th century Mexican botanical artist, Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy. Many of the species produce numerous offsets, and are commonly known as 'Hen and chicks', which can also refer to other genera such as Sempervivum that are significantly different from Echeveria.

Many Echeveria species are popular as garden plants. They are drought-resistant, although they do better with regular deep watering and fertilizing. Most will tolerate shade and some frost, although hybrid species tend to be less tolerant. They can be propagated easily by separating offsets, but may also be propagated by leaf cuttings, and by seed if they are not hybrids. Echeverias are polycarpic, meaning that they may flower and set seed many times over the course of their lifetimes.

Most lose their lower leaves in winter; as a result, after a few years, the plants lose their attractive, compact appearance and need to be rerooted or propagated. In addition, if not removed, these shed leaves may decay, harboring fungus which can then infect the plant. It is a xerophyte and many peoples favorite type of plant.

Selected Species

Flowers of Echeveria 'Blue Curl'

Cultivars

*Echeveria cv. 'Black Prince'

• Echeveria agavoides cv. 'Ebony'
• Echeveria agavoides cv. 'Lipstick'
• Echeveria agavoides cv. 'Red'
• Echeveria agavoides cv. 'Victor Reiter'
• Echeveria pulvinata cv. 'Oliver'
• Echeveria cv. 'Arlie Wright'
• Echeveria cv. 'Black Prince'
• Echeveria cv. 'Blue Heron'
• Echeveria cv. 'Dondo'
• Echeveria cv. 'Doris Taylor' (Woolly Rose)
• Echeveria cv. 'Hoveyi'
• Echeveria cv. 'Lola'
• Echeveria cv. 'Opalina'
• Echeveria cv. 'Painted Lady'
• Echeveria cv. 'Ruberia'
• Echeveria cv. 'Set-Oliver'
• Echeveria cv. 'Tippy'
• Echeveria cv. 'Wavy Curls'

Formerly in Echeveria

• E. anthonyi - synonym of Dudleya anthonyi
• E. attenuata, E. edulis var. attenuata - synonyms of Dudleya attenuata (Orcutt's Liveforever, Tapertip Liveforever)
• E. californica, E. cotyledon, E. helleri, E. laxa - synonyms of Dudleya caespitosa (Sea Lettuce)
• E. candida - synonym of Dudleya candida
• E. cultrata - synonym of Dudleya cultrata
• E. cymosa - synonym of Dudleya cymosa (Canyon Live-forever)
• E. edulis - synonym of Dudleya edulis (Fingertips)
• E. argentea, E. pulverulenta - synonyms of Dudleya pulverulenta ssp. pulverulenta (Chalk Lettuce)
• E. collomiae - synonym of Dudleya saxosa ssp. collomiae (Rock Live-forever)
• E. clavifolia - synonym of Pachyveria clavifolia

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Echeveria

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