Echeveria harmsii
| Light | Bright light to a few hours of direct sun; more colour and compact growth in strong light |
|---|---|
| Water | Soak and dry; water when the mix is fully dry, ease off in winter |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining succulent mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Protect from frost; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Stem and leaf cuttings; also seed |
| Toxicity | Generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echeveria harmsii is a small, shrubby succulent from Mexico, grown for its soft, fuzzy leaves and unusually large, bell-shaped flowers. Unlike the tight ground-hugging rosettes of many Echeveria, it builds up short, branching stems tipped with loose rosettes of narrow, pointed leaves covered in fine hairs, and produces showy red-and-yellow lantern-like blooms that give it common names such as plush plant and red echeveria.
Description
Echeveria harmsii is one of the shrubbier members of its genus. Rather than forming a single flat rosette, it develops short, woody, branching stems that in time become a small, mounding bush. Each stem is topped by an open rosette of lance-shaped, pointed leaves, typically green and often flushed red along the margins in bright light. The entire plant — leaves and stems alike — is clothed in short, soft hairs (trichomes) that give it a velvety, plush texture, hence the common name plush plant.
The flowers are the plant's real showpiece. Borne on short stalks in spring and into summer, they are comparatively large and urn- to bell-shaped, a rich scarlet or orange-red with contrasting yellow tips and interior. Their size relative to the small rosettes makes E. harmsii one of the more spectacular echeverias in flower.
The species was historically placed in its own genus as Oliveranthus elegans, a name still occasionally seen in older references and in the trade.
Distribution and habitat
Echeveria harmsii is native to Mexico, where it grows on rocky slopes and among rocks in seasonally dry, mild-climate uplands. In habitat it experiences bright light, sharp drainage and a distinct dry season, conditions worth keeping in mind when growing it in cultivation.
Cultivation
This is a rewarding and relatively forgiving succulent for a bright windowsill or a frost-free greenhouse. Grow it in a gritty, free-draining mix and give it as much light as you can short of harsh, scorching midday sun through glass — good light keeps the rosettes compact, deepens the red leaf edges and encourages flowering, while too little light stretches the stems and pales the foliage.
Water by the soak-and-dry method: wet the mix thoroughly, then let it dry out completely before watering again. Reduce watering in winter, when the plant rests. As with all fuzzy-leaved succulents, try to keep water off the leaves in strong sun and avoid leaving moisture trapped in the rosette, since the hairs can hold droplets and encourage marking or rot. Protect the plant from frost; it is happiest kept above freezing (roughly USDA zones 9b–11) and can spend warm months outdoors in a bright, sheltered spot. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Because the stems lengthen and branch with age, older plants can become leggy or top-heavy. Many growers simply behead and re-root the rosettes periodically to keep the plant tidy and compact.
Propagation
Echeveria harmsii is easy to propagate vegetatively. Stem-tip cuttings root readily: take a rosette on a short length of stem, let the cut end callus for a day or two, then set it on or just into a dry, gritty mix and water lightly once roots begin. Individual leaves can also be pulled cleanly and laid on the surface to produce plantlets, though hairy-leaved echeverias are sometimes a little less reliable from leaves than the smooth-leaved kinds. The species can be raised from seed as well. See Propagation — cuttings and Propagation — offsets for details.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, from overwatering or a slow-draining mix; stems and rosettes soften and blacken from the base.
- Etiolation — in weak light the stems stretch, spacing out the leaves and losing the compact form; move to brighter conditions and re-root the tips if needed.
- Water marking — droplets caught in the fuzzy leaves can scorch or blemish in strong sun, so water at the roots where possible.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff tucked into the rosette and leaf axils) and, in dry indoor air, occasionally spider mites. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Echeveria — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — leaf · Repotting