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Origin and Habitat: Mexico (Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon).
Habitat and ecology: This plant is native to the mountainous areas in northern Mexico, where it grows in shaded areas in pine-needles on boulders.
Synonyms:
- Echeveria shaviana E.Walther
ENGLISH: Mexican hens, Pink Frills, Echeveria, Mexican Hens & Chicks
Description: Echeveria shavianaSN|32126]]SN|32126]] is a perennial leaf-succulent species with crowded rosettes, usually without distinct stems, simple ultimately offsetting from the base. Its leaves are spoon-shaped, smooth, silvery grey with pink margins, incurving and very wavy crinkled that take on a pinkish tint if grown in bright light. The thin, delicate leaves are unique in a genus that tends towards chubby foliage. In summer appear the branched stems of pink flowers that are yellow in the interior, lovely in bloom as well as out. They are all arranged to one side of the stalk (second) and usually hang down (typically nodding). As with many species of Echeveria, there are numerous hybrids and garden clones that tend to obliterate the distinction between species.
Stem: Short (less than 5 cm long and about 1 cm in diameter) or absent, sparsely branching.
Rosettes: 8-10 cm in diameter with up to 50 (or more) crowded, leaves.
Leaves: 3-5 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm wide, thin, obovate to obovate-spatulate, tapering to a stalk-like base less than 5 mm wide 15-20 mm long, with a small apical point (mucro), hairless, glaucous green, flushed pink, margin finely crenulate or undulate-crispate, toothed near tips.
Inflorescence: Flowering-stems one or two or several, up to 30 cm long, 2 to 3 mm thick at base, erect, simple, one-sided (second), with 1 - 2 cincinni up to12 cm long with 12-15 nodding flowers. Pedicels less than 2 mm long. Bracts up to 10 or more, 1-1.5 cm long, appressed to ascending, linear, pointed, spurred.
Flowers: Sepals ascending, not appressed, to 9 mm, unequal, linear to lanceolate or triangular, pointed. Corolla corolla erect at anthesis then nodding, 10-13 mm long, 6 mm in basal diameter, 5-sided, pink, segments narrow, keeled, tips slender and spreading.
Blooming season: Summer (June onwards).
Chromosome number: 2n = 26.
Notes: This plant is the pollen parent for Don Worth's incredible hybrid Echeveria 'Afterglow' (Echeveria canteSN|32126]]SN|22248]] x Echeveria shavianaSN|22248]]SN|32126]]).
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Eric Walther “Echeveria” California Academy of Sciences, 01 January 1972
2) Bill Keen “CACTI AND SUCCULENTS: Step-by-Step to Growing Success” Crowood, 18 October 2011
3) Graf, “Exotica”, series 4, edn 12, 1: 889 1985.
4) Graf, “Tropica”, edn 3, 369 1986.
5) Pilbeam, “The genus Echeveria”, 257, 258 2008.
6) Gideon Smith, Ben-Erik Van Wyk “The Garden Succulents Primer” Timber Press, 2008
7) Eggli, Urs “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants, Crassulaceae Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants.” Springer, Berlin 2002
8) James Cullen “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11 August 2011
9) Lorraine Schulz and Attila Kapitany "Echeveria Cultivars" Schulz Publishing, 2005.
10) San Marcos Growers "Echeveria shaviana - Mexican Hens" <http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3082>. Web. 06 December 2015
Echeveria shaviana Photo by: Giuseppe Distefano
The gallery now contains thousands of pictures, however it is possible to do even more. We are, of course, seeking photos of species not yet shown in the gallery but not only that, we are also looking for better pictures than those already present. Read More...
Cultivation and Propagation: Echeveria shavianaSN|32126]]SN|32126]] is a summer-growing popular, decorative species, that is difficult to maintain in cultivation, losing its roots easily and attracting mealy bugs, not the easiest of the echeverias. It makes great potted specimens. Plant in full sun to light shade (requires some shade in hot interior climates) in a well-drained soil.
Soil: Use a very porous soil, which will allow quick drainage.
Repotting: If potted, repot them preferably in the spring, if their roots become cramped. Generally, they should be repotted every other year in order to provide fresh soil. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they'll need larger containers. Fill about a quarter of the pot with broken crocks, gravel, etc. to promote good drainage. After repotting, do not water for a week or more. Use pot with good drainage. Eventually, as the plant becomes mature grow it slowly, and adopt a new repotting period, using intervals of every 2 - 3 years. Additionally grow it under drier conditions or with stronger sunlight.
Fertilization: Slow release fertilisers with a low to moderate nitrogen content are adequate for the spring and summer growing seasons, and additional fertiliser applications would not required until spring.
Exposure: It can tolerate sun to shade but - generally speaking - the more light a plant gets the better it will display its colours and shape. However, when moving plants from lower light conditions into full sun, be wary of sun scorch, most easily avoided by ensuring plants are well-watered before moving them on a cloudy day.
Watering: They can tolerate extended dry periods and survive drought without the need for watering, but they will grow stronger if they receive adequate moisture during their growing season, and never allowing the plant to remain waterlogged (root rot sensitive).
Ventilation: Good air movement is important for minimising pest and disease risks, and avoiding excessive humidity in cool winter conditions is important to successfully growing Echeveria in the nursery environment.
Hardiness: It can tolerate light frosts, but it is best overwintered at 5-10 °C.
With the cooler autumn temperatures tending to make their foliage colours become more intense than those of the active summer growing season.
Pest & disease: Aphids like this plant (and all flowering Echeveria).
Maintenance: Remove older dead leaves that build up at the base.
Propagation: Usually by seeds. If the plant is repotted some of the bottom leaves can be removed, in order to attempt leaf propagation, it is also a common practice to collect the leaves on the flower stem. However this is not one of the easiest species to root, as many such cuttings will dry out without producing a plantlet, but with perseverance it is likely to get a few new plants.
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