XSedeveria
×Sedeveria is an intergeneric hybrid between the genera Sedum and Echeveria, both members of the stonecrop family Crassulaceae. The crosses combine the compact, easygoing hardiness of Sedum with the tidy rosette form and rich colouring of Echeveria, producing small, symmetrical rosettes that flush through vivid shades of gold, orange, pink and blue-green as light and temperature change through the seasons.
What they are
The multiplication sign "×" in the name marks these plants as hybrids of two separate genera — a nothogenus — rather than a natural species. Most ×Sedeveria are the work of nurseries and hobbyist breeders who wanted the best of both parents: from Sedum comes tolerance of neglect, a forgiving root system and a tendency to root from almost any fallen piece; from Echeveria comes the neat, spiralling rosette and the capacity for dramatic seasonal colour. Named crosses such as Sedeveria 'Letizia, Sedeveria 'Blue Elf, Sedeveria 'Jet Beads, Sedeveria 'Maialen and Sedeveria 'Sorrento are widely grown; new selections appear regularly.
Appearance
×Sedeveria typically form low rosettes of thick, fleshy leaves, intermediate in size between the tiny leaves of many Sedum and the broader foliage of Echeveria. Leaf shape ranges from plump and bead-like to slender and pointed depending on the cross. Many offset freely to build up low clumps or short trailing stems, making them popular as fillers in mixed arrangements. The great appeal is colour: cool, well-lit conditions and a wide day-night temperature swing bring out flushes of red, orange, coral and gold over a green or blue-grey base, while shade and warmth push them back toward plain green. Small star-shaped flowers, usually cream to yellow, appear on short stalks in spring.
Cultivation
Care follows the same easygoing rules as their parents. Give ×Sedeveria bright light — a few hours of direct sun brings out the strongest colour, though the fiercest afternoon sun can scorch — and a fast-draining, mostly mineral mix. Water thoroughly once the soil has dried out, then let it dry again; ease off in winter, when the plants are best kept cool and nearly dry. They are frost-tender and generally treated as tender succulents (roughly USDA zones 9–11), though many tolerate a brief light chill. See Watering and Repotting for general technique. Like other soft succulents they can attract mealybugs and aphids, and they rot quickly if kept wet.
Propagation is very easy, reflecting the Sedum side of the parentage: individual leaves laid on gritty compost and offsets or stem cuttings all root readily. See Propagation - leaf cuttings, Propagation - cuttings and Propagation - offsets.
See also
- Sedum · Echeveria — the parent genera
- Crassulaceae — the stonecrop family
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation - leaf cuttings · Propagation - offsets