Scientific Name
Echeveria dactylifera Walther.
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Genus: Echeveria
Etymology
The specific epithet "dactylifera (dak-ty-LIF-er-uh)" means "fingerlike objects" and refers to the fingerlike petal appendages.
Origin
Echeveria dactylifera is native to Mexico (Sinaloa, Durango, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas, Jalisco, and Aguascalientes).
Description
Echeveria dactylifera is a succulent plant that forms a large stemless or short-stemmed rosette of reddish to reddish-brown, slightly glaucous leaves with red margins. The rosette can reach up to 16 inches (40 cm) in diameter. The leaves are elliptic-oblong, strongly concave on the upper surface, and can measure up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and 3.6 inches (9 cm) wide.
The flowers are pink, tinged with orange, inside yellow, urn-shaped, and can reach up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) in length and 0.7 inches (1.8 cm) in diameter. They appear on many short, few-flowered branches at the top of solitary, erect stalks that can grow up to 3.3 feet (1 m) tall in winter.
How to Grow and Care for Echeveria dactylifera
Soil: Echeverias need a potting soil mix that drains quickly. Many growers will create their own mix. However, commercial cactus and succulent potting soil will work fine.
Light: These succulents prefer full sun to partial shade. However, avoid drastic sunlight changes and full afternoon sun, especially in summer. When your succulents are inside during the winter, put them near the brightest window in your home.
Hardiness: Echeveria dactylifera can withstand temperatures as low as 25 to 50 °F (-3.9 to 10 °C), USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b.
Watering: When and how to water is crucial for Echeveria care. They do not like to be kept too wet, but they also do not like to be kept too dry. Therefore, the "soak and dry" method is the preferred schedule for watering Echeverias.
Fertilizing: Echeverias grow well without fertilizer but may benefit from the extra nutrients.
Repotting: Repot when needed in the spring or early summer.
Propagation: Echeverias are one of the easiest succulents to propagate. They are usually propagated from offsets or leaves but can also be grown from stem cuttings and seeds.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Echeveria.
Toxicity of Echeveria dactylifera
Echeverias are safe around pets and humans, although it is not advisable to eat them.
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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