Scientific Name
Echeveria runyonii Rose
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Genus: Echeveria
Etymology
The specific epithet "runyonii (run-YON-ee-eye)" honors Robert Runyon (1881-1968), an American photographer, botanist, and politician who served as the mayor of Brownsville, Texas, from 1941 to 1943.
Description
Echeveria runyonii is a fast-growing succulent that forms rosettes of silvery-grey to pinkish-white leaves. The rosettes usually grow up to 4.8 inches (12 cm) in diameter. The leaves are spoon-shaped with a short pointed tip, measuring up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) long and 1.6 inches (4 cm) wide.
The flowers are bright orange and yellow and appear above the foliage on arching, up to 8 inches (20 cm) long stalks, usually in late summer or fall.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 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.
Most Echeverias can be easily propagated from leaf cuttings, although some 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.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Echeveria.
Origin
According to E. Walther, Echeveria runyonii has been found in a garden at Matamoras, Tamaulipas, Mexico, as a cultivated plant, and no habitat was known. Several cultivars of this species have been named: Echeveria runyonii 'Texas Rose', Echeveria runyonii 'Dr. Butterfield', Echeveria runyonii 'Lucita', Echeveria runyonii 'Tom Allen', Echeveria 'Holy Gate' or Echeveria 'Holly Gate'. These plants are not conspicuously different from Echeveria runyonii, and the names may well be just nursery names.
Forms, Cultivars, and Hybrids
- Echeveria runyonii 'Cook's Pride'
- Echeveria runyonii 'Illusion'
- Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy'
- Echeveria 'Caly Argentea'
- Echeveria 'Dondo'
- Echeveria 'Encantada'
Links
- Back to genus Echeveria
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
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