Echeveria gibbiflora
| Light | Bright light to a few hours of direct sun; some shade from fierce afternoon sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Water thoroughly when the soil has dried, then let it dry again; ease off in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining gritty mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Beheading and rooting, offsets, seed; leaf cuttings less reliable |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echeveria gibbiflora is a large, shrubby, caulescent species from central and southern Mexico, notable for the broad, spoon-shaped leaves that form its wide, open rosettes. One of the biggest species in the genus, it is a major parent behind many of the large, showy Echeveria hybrids grown today.
Description
Echeveria gibbiflora builds a stout, upright stem that lengthens with age, so mature plants become distinctly caulescent and can stand tall on a bare trunk. Atop the stem sits a wide, loose rosette of large, thin leaves — broadly spoon- to paddle-shaped, sometimes with a wavy or ruffled margin — that can span a considerable width, making it one of the larger-leaved echeverias.
Leaf colour ranges from grey-green to dusty grey overlaid with pink, mauve or bronze tones, and many plants carry a fine, powdery glaucous farina that is easily rubbed off by handling. In autumn the species sends up tall, arching flower stalks bearing pink to reddish-orange, bell-shaped blooms that are attractive to hummingbirds and pollinating insects.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to central and southern Mexico, where it grows on rocky slopes, cliffs and open woodland at moderate to high elevations. In these habitats it enjoys bright light, sharp drainage and a seasonal rhythm of summer rain followed by a drier, cooler winter — conditions worth keeping in mind in cultivation.
Cultivation
Echeveria gibbiflora is straightforward to grow given the two things it dislikes most: standing water and deep shade. Plant it in a free-draining, gritty mix and give it the brightest spot you can, ideally with a few hours of gentle direct sun to keep the rosette compact and well coloured; too little light and the plant stretches, pales and produces floppy, over-large leaves.
Water thoroughly once the soil has dried out, then allow it to dry again before the next drink, and reduce watering markedly through the cooler, darker months. Because the species becomes tall and top-heavy with age, an occasional repot into a slightly heavier or wider pot helps keep it stable. See Watering for general technique.
Propagation
The most dependable route is vegetative and from the stem rather than the leaf. A leggy plant can be "beheaded" — the rosette cut off and re-rooted, with the old stump frequently branching to give further offsets, which can in turn be removed and rooted. Whole leaves can be tried too, pulled cleanly from the stem and laid on a barely-moist mineral surface, but the thin leaves of this species root far less reliably than those of the fleshier-leaved echeverias. Seed is also possible where flowers can be cross-pollinated. See Propagation — cuttings, Propagation — offsets and Propagation — seed for full walkthroughs.
Cultivars
E. gibbiflora and its varieties (such as the crested and carunculate forms) have long been used in breeding, and the species stands behind a great many of the large, ruffled, richly coloured hybrids in the trade. Its size and bold leaf shape make it a favourite parent for growers chasing dramatic, dinner-plate rosettes.
Common problems
- Rot — from overwatering or a slow-draining mix; the stem or lower leaves go soft, translucent and brown.
- Etiolation — too little light stretches the stem and enlarges, pales and flattens the leaves, spoiling the rosette's form.
- Marked farina — the powdery coating is permanent where rubbed off, so handle plants by the stem or pot rather than the leaves.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the leaf axils and roots) and vine weevil grubs are the usual troublemakers; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Echeveria — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — offsets · Repotting