Echeveria 'Topsy Turvy'
Echeveria 'Topsy Turvy is a distinctive sport of Echeveria runyonii, prized for its curiously twisted foliage. Its silvery-blue leaves curl so that the margins roll downward and backward while the leaf tip curves upward and inward toward the centre of the rosette, giving the plant a spiky, almost inside-out appearance quite unlike the flat, spoon-shaped leaves of most echeverias.
Because it is a cultivar, its care follows that of the parent species, Echeveria runyonii — see below.
Description
'Topsy Turvy' forms a symmetrical rosette of thick, pale silvery-grey to blue leaves coated in a fine powdery farina (epicuticular wax). The defining trait is the leaf shape: rather than lying flat, each leaf is inversely keeled, with its margins curving downward and backward toward the underside while the tip turns upward and inward toward the growing point, so that the upper surface appears twisted outward. This gives the whole plant a lively, wind-tossed silhouette that reads as the source of the name.
Mature clumps offset freely from the base, forming attractive clusters over time. In warmer months the rosette can send up arching flower stalks bearing small orange-and-yellow blooms typical of the genus, though most growers value it chiefly for its sculptural foliage. Strong light deepens the silvery-blue tones and keeps the rosette compact.
Cultivation
Care is essentially the same as for the parent species and for echeverias in general. Grow 'Topsy Turvy' in bright light — a sunny windowsill or, once acclimatised, full sun outdoors — which keeps the rosette tight and the colour bright; too little light causes the plant to stretch and the leaves to lose their characteristic curl. Plant it in a fast-draining, largely mineral mix in a pot with drainage, and follow the "soak and dry" approach: water thoroughly, then let the soil dry out completely before watering again. Reduce watering markedly in winter. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Like most echeverias, it is not frost-hardy and should be kept above freezing; in cold climates grow it as a container plant that can be moved under cover for winter. Water at the base rather than overhead, as moisture and farina-dulling residue trapped in the tightly cupped leaves can encourage rot. The powdery farina is easily rubbed off and does not regrow on that leaf, so handle plants by the base or pot.
Propagation
The easiest and most reliable method is by offsets: the plentiful pups can be separated once they have a few roots of their own and potted up individually. Leaf cuttings are possible but less dependable with this cultivar; where they do take, follow the usual leaf-cutting method of letting the leaf callus before laying it on barely-moist mix. Being a sport, 'Topsy Turvy' is maintained vegetatively rather than from seed, which would not reliably reproduce its twisted form.
See also
- Echeveria — the genus overview
- Propagation — offsets · Propagation — cuttings · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting