Echeveria runyonii
| Light | Bright light to full sun; some protection from scorching midday sun in hot climates |
|---|---|
| Water | Water thoroughly, then allow the soil to dry fully; reduce sharply in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining gritty mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Leaf cuttings, offsets and beheading; seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echeveria runyonii is a silvery-blue, rosette-forming succulent in the genus Echeveria, native to northeastern Mexico. It forms loose rosettes of broad, spoon-shaped leaves coated in a pale, powdery farina (epicuticular wax) that gives the plant its characteristic frosted, blue-grey sheen. It is grown widely as an easy, fast-offsetting landscape and container succulent, but is best known today through its curious cultivar E. runyonii 'Topsy Turvy, whose leaves curl outward and upward as if turned inside-out.
Description
Echeveria runyonii forms a fairly flat, open rosette typically 10–20 cm across, made up of thick, obovate to spoon-shaped leaves that taper to a small point. The leaves are a soft blue-grey to lilac, their colour coming from a dense chalky coating of farina — a natural wax layer best left untouched, as it does not regrow once rubbed off. In strong light the leaf margins and tips may take on pinkish or lavender tones.
The species offsets freely, so a single plant soon becomes a spreading cluster of rosettes. In late summer and autumn it sends up arching flower stalks bearing nodding, urn-shaped blooms in warm shades of orange, coral and yellow — typical of the genus and attractive to bees and hummingbirds.
Distribution and habitat
E. runyonii is native to the state of Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico, where it grows on rocky slopes and in gritty, well-drained ground. Like most Echeveria, it is adapted to bright light, sharp drainage and a distinct dry season, and tolerates heat well while resenting prolonged wet or cold.
Cultivation
This is one of the more forgiving echeverias and a good choice for beginners. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in bright light or gentle sun; too much shade causes the rosette to stretch and lose its tight, silvery form. Water thoroughly once the soil has dried out completely, then wait — the commonest cause of loss is overwatering, which leads to soft, rotting leaves at the base.
Keep the plant dry and cool (but frost-free) through winter. Try to water at soil level rather than over the rosette, since water trapped in the crown can spot the farina or cause rot. Move plants under cover before frost, or grow them in pots that can be brought indoors. See Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
E. runyonii is very easy to increase. The freely produced offsets can be twisted off and rooted (see Propagation — offsets), and healthy leaves removed cleanly from the stem will often root and form plantlets (see Propagation — cuttings). A stretched or leggy rosette can be beheaded and re-rooted, with the old stem usually sprouting new offsets. It also grows readily from seed, though seedlings are variable and named cultivars are kept true only by vegetative means.
Cultivars
- E. runyonii 'Topsy Turvy — by far the best-known form, with narrow, silvery leaves that curl sharply upward and outward, appearing folded inside-out. It gives the rosette a spiky, sculptural look quite unlike the flat wild species. Care is as for the species, though the twisted leaves can trap water in the crown, so careful low watering is especially important.
- E. runyonii 'Lucita and other selections are grown for slightly differing leaf shape and colour.
Common problems
- Rot — from overwatering, poor drainage, or water sitting in the rosette; leaves soften and blacken from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light stretches the stem and opens the rosette, spoiling its compact shape.
- Lost farina — the powdery coating rubs off permanently where handled; try to lift plants by the pot or stem.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the leaf axils) and, less often, aphids on flower stalks and root mealybugs. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Echeveria — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — offsets · Propagation — cuttings · Repotting