Scientific Name
Echeveria 'Compton Carousel'
Common Name(s)
Variegated Hens and Chicks
Synonym(s)
Echeveria × imbricata 'Compton Carousel', Echeveria 'Imbricata Variegata', Echeveria 'Lenore Dean'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Genus: Echeveria
Origin
Echeveria 'Compton Carousel' may share similar parentage to Echeveria 'Imbricata', a popular hybrid from the 1800s that results from a cross between Echeveria secunda and Echeveria gibbiflora 'Metallica'.
Description
Echeveria 'Compton Carousel', also known as Echeveria 'Lenore Dean', is an attractive succulent that forms tight rosettes of blue-gray leaves with cream-colored margins. The rosettes can reach a diameter of 8 inches (20 cm) and produce offsets, forming a dense clump over time. The older leaves have a hint of pink, primarily in winter.
The rosettes produce beautiful red flowers with yellow tips on stalks that rise vertically and then arch gracefully, growing up to 1 foot (30 cm) long.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20°F (-6.7°C) to 50°F (10°C).
How to Grow and Care
Most common Echeveria species are not complicated succulents to grow, provided you follow a few basic rules. First, never let water sit in the rosette; it can cause rot or fungal diseases that kill the plant. Additionally, remove dead leaves from the bottom of the plant as it grows. These dead leaves provide a haven for pests, and Echeverias are susceptible to mealybugs. Finally, as with all succulents, careful watering habits and plenty of light will help ensure success.
Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot a succulent, ensure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, removing any rotted or dead roots. Treat any cuts with a fungicide.
Most Echeverias can be easily propagated from leaf cuttings, although a few are better from seeds or stem cuttings. To propagate a leaf cutting, place the individual leaf in potting soil for succulents and cover the dish until the new plant sprouts.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Echeveria.
Links
- Back to genus Echeveria
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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