Scientific Name
Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy'
Common Names
Mexican Hen and Chicks
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Echeveria
Description
Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy' is a fast-growing succulent that forms rosettes that grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. Leaves are pale blue-green to silvery-grey, often with pink tips. They are spatulate, strongly inversely keeled on the lower surface with leaf tips pointing inwards towards the center of the rosette, up to3 inches (7.5 cm) long, up 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. The showy, bright orange flowers rise above the foliage on a tall arching inflorescence, 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. 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, make sure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, making sure to remove any rotted or dead roots in the process. 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. See more at How to Grow and Care for Echeveria.
Origin
Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy' is a popular cultivar that originates as a stable monstrose form of Echeveria runyonii. It is named by Myron Kimnack, the former director of the Huntington Botanical Gardens.
Forms and Hybrids
Links
- Back to genus Echeveria
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Subscribe now and be up to date with our latest news and updates.