Red echeveria (Echeveria coccinea)

Description

Echeveria coccinea, red echeveria, is a semi-sprawling shrubby succulent 1 to 2 feet tall by 3 or more feet wide with well-branched leafy stems holding rosettes of 3 to 4 inch long blue-green leaves that are covered in silver hairs and sometimes tinged red along the margins. In late winter into spring appear the relatively large (for an Echeveria) reddish orange flowers with bright yellow stamens on 1 foot long leafy inflorescences. Plant in full coastal sun to light shade in well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally. Hardy to around 25 °F. This plant can benefit from being cut back every few years or as needed to keep it from sprawling too much - stays denser if grown if full sun. It is a great large container plant or accent plant that is easy to grow and attractive in or out of flower with its velvet-textured silvery leaves and dark orange-red flowers. Echeveria coccinea is widespread throughout much of central Mexico and is the type species that Candolle used to name the genus. Echeveria is a large genus of flowering plants in the Crassulaceae family, native to semi-desert areas of Central America, Mexico and northwestern South America. Plants may be evergreen or deciduous. Flowers on short stalks (cymes) arise from compact rosettes of succulent fleshy, often brightly coloured leaves. Species are polycarpic, meaning that they may flower and set seed many times over the course of their lifetimes. Often numerous offsets are produced, and are commonly known as "hen and chicks", which can also refer to other genera, such as Sempervivum, that are significantly different from Echeveria. Many species of Echeveria serve important environmental roles, such as those of host plants for butterflies. For example, the butterfly Callophrys xami uses several species of Echeveria, such as Echevelia gibbiflora, for suitable host plants. Even more, these plants are integral to the oviposition process of C. xami and some other butterfly species as well. The genus is named after the 18th century Mexican botanical artist Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy. Many Echeveria species are popular as ornamental garden plants. They are drought-resistant, although they do better with regular deep watering and fertilizing. Most will tolerate shade and some frost, although hybrids tend to be less tolerant. Most lose their lower leaves in winter; as a result, after a few years, the plants lose their compact appearance and need to be re-rooted or propagated. In addition, if not removed, the shed leaves may decay, harboring fungus that can then infect the plant.