No collection of succulents is complete without the iridescent echeverias. These are sometimes called hen and chicks.

Echeverias prefer the usual care that is required for other succulents. They need a well-drained potting soil that is kept somewhat dry. These succulents prefer warm temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or above.

Those echeverias that are native to woodland areas benefit from a little shade in the afternoon when the sun is at its strongest.

Echeverias can be propagated from the pups taken from mature plants. I cut these off close to the mother plant, and stick them in a pot of their own. This method produces plants exactly like the original. Plants can also be propagated from leaf cuttings and cuttings of the flower stalk. If you attempt to grow cultivars from seed, the resulting seedlings may be slightly different in appearance.

Echeverias are noted for their striking foliage, arranged in picturesque rosettes. For some kinds, the rosettes are loose, while in others it is very tightly packed together.

Though the exact color may vary depending on the species or kind you choose, many that I see for sale are gray or blue. But, it can also be in a wide range of other colors, including black, red, purple, pink, orange, or yellow. Echeveria peacockii has bluish foliage, while that of Echeveria elegans is brilliant green. The surface often has a waxy or powdery appearance. Some foliage features very soft hairs. The size of the foliage can vary greatly.

Like those of other succulents, the blooms of echeverias tend to be spectacular. The arching flower stalks have clusters of bell-shaped blooms in a range of colors. They may be pink, yellow, red, or orange. Echeveria flowers are very long lasting. Individual flowers may be nearly one-half inch in diameter.

Echeverias are natives of Latin America—specifically Argentina and Mexico. For that reason, many of them can’t tolerate frost or cold weather. Do check details for the one you are growing, as a few are hardy to zone 8. On the other hand, they can tolerate searing high temperatures.

With over a hundred or more species of echeverias, there are ones to suit every gardener’s preference. Besides these, there are many kinds of hybrids are available as well.

Often, the name will describe the plant, such as Echeveria ‘Black Prince.’

Plush plant (Echeveria pulvinata) is also called chenille plant. As you might guess from the common names, the leaves are covered with tiny soft hairs. The edges of the foliage have reddish tinges.

Painted lady (Echeveria derenbergii) has relatively small, blue foliage in a tightly arranged spiral.

Among the many other kinds of echeverias, some stand out in the crowd. These include Echeveria ‘Lilac Frost.’ The foliage of this beauty is particularly striking. Not only is it arranged in perfect symmetry, but also the very tips are tinged with hints of pink or red, which contrasts very nicely with the gray foliage.

Echeveria ‘Fractal’ is especially known for its crinkled leaves. The edges are so frilly it is hard to tell where one leaf ends and another begins. In addition, the foliage has a very dramatic look due to the purplish edges.

Both of these cultivars have something in common. They have special features, known as carunculations. These are textured, raised areas in the leaves.

Echeveria ‘Morning Light” features lovely pink leaves.

During the Victorian era, some of the echeverias were used for bedding out planting schemes.

So far as their culture is concerned, echeverias are generally unbothered by pests and diseases.