Scientific Name
Echeveria lilacina Kimnach & Moran
Common Name(s)
Ghost Echeveria, Mexican Hens and Chicks
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Genus: Echeveria
Etymology
The generic name "Echeveria" (pronounced "ech-eh-VER-ee-a") honors Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy🡕 (fl. 1771–1803), an 18th-century botanical artist and naturalist from New Spain who trained at the Royal Art Academy in Mexico City.
The specific epithet "lilacina" (pronounced "ly-las-SY-nuh") means "lilac-colored" and refers to the lilac hues of the leaves of this species, which result from the waxy powder that covers them.
Description
Echeveria lilacina is an attractive, slow-growing succulent that forms a rosette of fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves with a short, pointed tip. The rosette grows solitary and can reach up to 6.8 inches (17 cm) in diameter. The leaves are brownish-olive-green and covered by a light, violet-white to pinkish-white waxy powder. They can measure up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) long and 1.5 inches (3.7 cm) wide.
The flowers are pale pink or coral-pink and appear in short, arching racemes on the top of reddish stalks that can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) long. The flowering period extends from late winter to early spring.
Origin
Echeveria lilacina is native to Nuevo Leon in northern Mexico.
Cultivars and Hybrids of Echeveria lilacina
- Echeveria 'Beverley'
- Echeveria 'Clarina'
- Echeveria 'Crispate Beauty'
- Echeveria 'Lilac Dream'
- Echeveria 'Lola'
- Echeveria 'Moondust'
- Echeveria 'Orion'
- Echeveria 'Paloma'
- ×Graptoveria 'Margaret Rose'
How to Grow and Care for Echeveria lilacina
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
Most common Echeveria species are not complicated to grow, as long as you follow a few basic rules. First, never 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 mealybugs. Finally, as with all succulents, careful watering and ample 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 some are better propagated from seeds or stem cuttings. To propagate a leaf cutting, place the individual leaf in potting soil specifically designed 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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