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Cactus SucculentHouseplants

Echeveria desmetiana

A perennial succulent, forming a low, dense rosette up to 20cm across, with fleshy, grey-green leaves that flush blue and purple in strong light. Flowers are small and fluted, red on the outsides and golden yellow inside, and are held on tall, unbranching stems in summer

Synonyms

Echeveria subsessilis
Echeveria peacockii

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Plant nurseries
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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Crassulaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Echeveria can be evergreen succulent perennials or subshrubs with rosettes of colourful, fleshy leaves and racemes or panicles of urn-shaped flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Mexico

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a free-draining potting mix suitable for cacti and succulents. Water moderately when in growth and do not allow to sit in water; no need to water at all during the winter dormant season. To keep this plant over winter it must be protected from frost. See Echeveria and houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe, or by stem or leaf cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Remove dead leaves from the bottom of the plant as it grows

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs and vine weevil

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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