Echeverias are neat, compact plants formed by tight rosettes of spoon-shaped leaves in blue-green, red, purple, or silver. These succulents are easy to grow and adore a south-facing room or sunny windowsill. If it’s warm enough, you’ll be blessed with pink and yellow lantern flowers in late summer.
HEIGHT 4in (10cm)
SPREAD 12in (30cm)
FLOWERS Stems of pink or yellow blooms
FOLIAGE Succulent rosettes
LIGHT Sun/filtered sun
TEMPERATURE 50–86°F (10–30°C)
CARE Easy
PLACE OF ORIGIN Central America and Mexico
Plant echeverias in individual pots or put several species in a larger dish and position them in a bright spot with low humidity. Place them outside in summer but bring them inside for protection during the fall and winter.
These plants are natives of arid environments, so place them in a cactus potting mix and keep the watering to an absolute minimum—echeverias are perfect for people who are often away from home. Avoid watering the crown of the plant as this can lead to rot. Apply a half-strength liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks during the summer months.
Echeverias are easy to propagate: simply cut off the offsets in spring and give them their own pot. You can also propagate by taking healthy leaf cuttings and pushing them into moist potting mix.
Repot echeverias every other year. This can be a fussy task, as some species have leaves that tend to fall off.
PROBLEM SOLVING The most persistent and widespread problems with echeverias are caused by either too much or too little watering. Both these issues cause the plant to wilt, turn yellow, and then shrivel. Plants should dry out between watering; after a good water, put them on a draining board for a while. If light levels are too low, plants can become leggy. Remedy this by moving them to a brighter spot.
These architectural plants are a popular choice for anyone wanting to create a striking display in a small, contemporary home. You can have fun displaying your echeverias in different ways: treat them to interesting individual pots; plant several together in a large, shallow pot, or line a basket with plastic and use this as a container. Echeverias look great displayed alongside other succulents such as the jade plant.
Houseplants A–Z | ECHEVERIA
Many indoor gardeners choose to fill their sunny home with easy-care succulents. They offer a modern look and don’t require much attention. For distinctive, architectural shapes, also try:
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