Echeveria agavoides (Molded Wax Agave)

Scientific Name

Echeveria agavoides Lem.

Common Name(s)

Molded Wax, Molded Wax Agave, Molded Wax Plant, Wax Agave, Wax Echeveria

Synonym(s)

Cotyledon agavoides, Echeveria obscura, Echeveria yuccoides, Urbinia agavoides, Urbinia obscura

Scientific Classification

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Echeveria

Origin

This species is native to rocky areas of Mexico.

Description

Echeveria agavoides is a stemless succulent with a dense, usually solitary rosette of fat, triangular leaves with a terminal spine. The rosette grows up to 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter. Leaves are apple green with edges that can turn reddish in bright sunlight. Flowers appear in summer on slender, up to 12 inches (30 cm) long cymes. They are pinkish-red or orange, with petals tipped with dark yellow.

Etymology

The specific epithet "agavoides (ah-gav-OH-id-eez)" means "resembling Agave" and refers to the likeness of the species to members of the genus Agave. It is a compound of two words, the generic name "Agave" and the Latin suffix "-oides," meaning "looks like" or "similar to."

Echeveria agavoides (Molded Wax Agave) — *Photo by Stephen Boisvert*

How to Grow and Care for Echeveria agavoides

Light: E. agavoides prefers full sun to partial shade. If you are moving your plant outside in the spring, do it gradually. The intense afternoon sun can cause sunburn. During the winter, when your E. agavoides is inside, put it near the brightest window in your home. It will stretch if it does not have enough sunlight.

Soil: This succulent needs a potting soil mix that drains quickly. Many growers will create their own mix. However, commercial succulent potting mixes will work fine.

Hardiness: This plant is a tender succulent, which means it must be brought indoors for the winter to survive. E. agavoides can withstand temperatures as low as 25 to 50 °F (-3.9 to 10 °C), USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b.

Watering: Provide moderate amounts of water from spring to fall. The "soak and dry" method is the preferred schedule for watering E. agavoides. If you have saucers under the pots, make sure after a short time to empty the water. During the winter months, water just enough to keep the plants from shriveling.

Fertilizing: E. agavoides grows well without fertilizer but may benefit from the extra nutrients. Use a slow-release fertilizer in spring or a liquid fertilizer diluted 2 to 4 times more than usual and used less often than recommended.

Repotting: Repot the plant only as needed during spring or early summer when it is actively growing. To repot your E. agavoides, make sure the soil is dry before repotting.

Propagation: Like all Echeverias, this succulent is usually propagated from leaves and offsets, but it can also be grown from stem cuttings and seeds. Spring is the best time to take cuttings and separate offsets. Sow the seeds in spring or summer.

Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Echeveria.