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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: NA |
| Bloomtime: Infrequent |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Echeveria gibbiflora 'David Harris' - A large clustering plant that produces foot wide rosettes on stout stems 12 to 18 inches long with broad spoon-shaped gray-green leaves that are narrowed at the base and have a wavy apex and purplish margin; older leaves flush purple to pink. In fall through winter this species normally forms a tall branching inflorescence, but on this selection the flowering stem usually terminates with a vegetative rosette, which allows this plant to form an ever enlarging cluster. We have noted only one stem that did produce flowers and these were dark pink on a 2 foot tall branching inflorescence. Plant in full coastal sun to light shade in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally – brighter light brings out the gray and purples in the foliage. Though not discovered in the wild, the value of this plant was first recognized by the late David Harris who, with his twin brother Don, have, since the 1970s, operated a landscape gardening company in Santa Barbara specializing in succulent plants. The Harris brothers are well known in Santa Barbara Cactus and Succulent circles and collected extensively throughout the southwest and Mexico. Dave Harris first noticed this interesting plant growing in the garden of a client in Ojai, California. We were given plants shortly after David's passing in 2012 with the request from his brother that it be named for David. The general consensus is that this plant is a unique form of Echeveria gibbiflora, a species that comes from the State of Michoacán in the west though central Mexico, particularly near Mexico City, and then south to Guatamala. The genus Echeveria was named to honor Mexican botanical artist Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy in 1828 by the French botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (DeCandolle) who was very impressed with Echeverría's drawings. Echeverría had accompanied the the Sessé and Mociño expedition (led by Martin de Sessé y Lacasta and Mariano Mociño Suárez de Figueroa) while exploring Mexico and northern Central America and had produced thousands of botanical illustrations. The genus Echeveria is a member of the large Crassula family (Crassulaceae), which has about 1,400 species in 33 genera with worldwide distribution. Echeveria, with approximately 180 species, are native to mid to higher elevations in the Americas with the main distribution in Mexico and central America but with one species found from as far north as southern Texas and several species occurring as far south as Bolivia, Peru and possibly Argentina. The book "The genus Echeveria" by John Pilbeam (published by the British Cactus and Succulent Society, 2008) is an excellent source of information on the species and "Echeveria Cultivars" by Lorraine Schulz and Attila Kapitany (Schulz Publishing, 2005) has beautiful photos and great information on the cultivars and hybrids. It has been argued by some that the correct pronunciation for the genus is ek-e-ve'-ri-a, though ech-e-ver'-i-a seems in more prevalent use in the US.
This information about Echeveria gibbiflora 'David Harris' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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