Echeveria 'Giant Mexican Firecracker'

Scientific Name

Echeveria 'Giant Mexican Firecracker'

Synonym(s)

Echeveria 'Mexican Firecracker'

Scientific Classification

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Genus: Echeveria

Description

Echeveria 'Giant Mexican Firecracker' is a beautiful succulent that forms rosettes of green leaves covered with short, white hairs and more or less edged in red. It usually branches from the base, creating a small clump. The rosettes can reach a diameter of 4.8 inches (12 cm).

Flowers are orange with a yellow tip and appear in clusters on up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall stems in spring (sometime later).

Origin

Echeveria 'Giant Mexican Firecracker' is a hybrid created by Charles Harrison Uhl (aka C. H. Uhl) from a cross between Echeveria pulvinata and an unknown Echeveria.

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zone 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °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, be careful never to let water sit in the rosette as it can cause rot or fungal diseases that will 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 mealy bugs. 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. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting soil, spreading the roots as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.

See more at How to Grow and Care for Echeveria.