Echeveria shaviana
| Light | Bright light to a little gentle sun; avoid scorching midday sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Water thoroughly when the soil has dried out, then let it dry again; keep drier and cooler in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining gritty mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed, leaf cuttings and offsets (see Propagation — offsets) |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echeveria shaviana is a small rosette-forming succulent from the mountains of northeastern Mexico, prized for its frilly, crinkled leaves in soft shades of lavender, powder-blue and pinkish-grey. The wavy, tightly waved leaf margins give each rosette a loose, ruffled, almost lettuce-like look that has made it a longtime favourite among Echeveria collectors, sometimes sold under the common name Mexican hens.
Description
Echeveria shaviana forms a low, stemless (or short-stemmed) rosette typically 8–15 cm across. The leaves are thin, spoon-shaped and strongly undulate along the edges, the margins puckered into fine frills and crimps that catch the light. Colour shifts with conditions and season — cool, bright weather deepens the lavender-pink and mauve tones, while warmth and shade push the plant toward flatter blue-green. A pale, waxy farina bloom coats the leaves and is easily rubbed off by handling.
In summer, mature rosettes send up slender, arching flower stalks bearing nodding, bell-shaped blooms in pink to coral tones with yellowish interiors. Like other echeverias, it is not monocarpic; the main rosette generally survives flowering and continues to offset.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Sierra Madre Oriental of northeastern Mexico, particularly the state of Nuevo León, where it grows on rocky slopes and outcrops at moderate to high elevation. These montane origins give it a preference for bright light with good airflow, sharp drainage, and cooler nights than many lowland succulents — conditions worth keeping in mind in cultivation.
Cultivation
Echeveria shaviana is an easygoing, rewarding plant grown much like other soft Echeveria species. Give it the brightest position you can short of harsh, scorching summer sun, which can mark the delicate frilled leaves; strong but filtered light keeps the rosette compact and brings out the best lavender-pink colouring. Plant in a free-draining, gritty mix in a pot with drainage, and water thoroughly only once the soil has dried out, then allow it to dry again — see Watering for technique. Ease off through winter, keeping the plant on the dry side and, ideally, cool and bright.
Try to water at the roots rather than over the crown: moisture that sits in the tightly ruffled centre invites rot, and it also spots the powdery farina bloom. Good ventilation helps enormously. Repot every year or two into fresh mix as the rosette grows or offsets crowd the pot (see Repotting).
Propagation
E. shaviana can be propagated several ways. Mature plants produce offsets around the base that can be separated and rooted — see Propagation — offsets. Individual leaves, cleanly removed and left to callus before being laid on barely-moist mix, will often strike new plantlets, though frilly-leaved echeverias can be a little less reliable from leaf than smoother-leaved kinds; see Propagation — cuttings. It also comes readily from seed where flowers are pollinated, and seed is the usual route for producing large numbers or new selections. See Propagation — seed.
Cultivars
Several named selections are grown for intensified colour and frilling. Pink Frills is the best known, with pronounced ruffled margins and strong pink flushing in good light. E. shaviana has also been used as a parent in many hybrids, passing its wavy-edged leaves on to popular crosses within the genus.
Common problems
- Rot — the frequent cause of loss, from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or water sitting in the crown; the rosette softens and browns from the centre or base.
- Etiolation — too little light stretches the stem and flattens the rosette, dulling the colours; move to a brighter spot.
- Marred bloom — the powdery farina rubs off permanently where leaves are handled or splashed; hold the plant by the pot.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff tucked into the leaf axils and crown) and, in dry stale air, the occasional spider mite; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Echeveria — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
- Propagation — offsets · Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — seed