Echeveria colorata
| Light | Bright light to full sun; needs strong light to keep its compact shape and colour |
|---|---|
| Water | Deeply but infrequently; let the soil dry fully between waterings, water from below to keep the rosette dry |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Leaf cuttings, offsets, beheading, and seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echeveria colorata is a striking rosette-forming succulent from western Mexico, prized for its large, open rosette of broad, pale silvery-blue leaves tipped and edged in pink to rose-red. The colour intensifies with strong light and cool nights, and the species is one of the most important parents in modern Echeveria hybridizing, standing behind a great many popular garden and collector hybrids.
Description
Echeveria colorata forms a solitary, mostly stemless rosette that can reach 15–20 cm or more across in a well-grown plant. The leaves are broad, thick and somewhat concave, tapering to a fine reddish point, and are coated in a pale, powdery farina (epicuticular wax) that gives the whole plant a chalky, bluish-white cast. In good light the leaf tips and margins flush a warm pink to rose-red, the trait that gives the species both its name and much of its appeal.
Mature plants send up arching, one-sided flower stalks in spring, bearing bell-shaped blooms in shades of yellow-orange to salmon-red. Several regional forms circulate in cultivation — such as the robust Mexican Giant, Lindsayana, Tapalpa and Brandtii — differing in leaf width, wax density and how strongly they colour up.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the highlands of western Mexico, in the state of Jalisco near Guadalajara, where it grows on rocky slopes and cliff faces. In habitat it enjoys sharp drainage, strong light and a pronounced dry season, conditions worth keeping in mind when growing it at home.
Cultivation
Echeveria colorata is an undemanding plant given the two things it most wants: light and drainage. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix and give it as much bright light as you can — ample sun keeps the rosette tight and brings out the pink margins, while too little light causes it to stretch and pale. Acclimatise plants gradually before moving them into full summer sun to avoid scorching the waxy leaves.
Water deeply only once the soil has dried right through, and reduce watering in winter to keep the plant cool and nearly dry. Water from below or aim for the soil rather than the crown, as trapped water in the rosette invites rot and spoils the delicate farina, which does not regrow once rubbed off. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
E. colorata is easily increased by several methods. Whole healthy leaves, twisted cleanly from the rosette and left to callus, will often root and form plantlets; established plants may also produce offsets that can be separated once rooted. A leggy or overgrown rosette can be "beheaded" — the top cut off, callused, and re-rooted — while the stump frequently branches to give further offsets. Seed is used chiefly by hybridizers. See Propagation — cuttings and Propagation — offsets for full walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Etiolation — insufficient light causes the rosette to stretch, pale and lose its tight, colourful form.
- Rot — from overwatering, poor drainage, or water sitting in the crown; the base or centre softens and browns.
- Lost farina — the powdery wax rubs off easily when handled and leaves permanent marks, so lift plants by the pot or the stem.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff between the leaves and at the roots) and, less often, aphids on the flower stalks. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Echeveria — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — offsets · Repotting · Pests and diseases