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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Rose Pink |
| Bloomtime: Fall/Winter |
| Parentage: (Echveria gibbiflora hybrid) |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Echeveria 'Big Red' A large Echeveria with solitary rosettes reaching to 12 to 18 inches across with broad thing triangular leaves on a thick stem that emerge green with red margins and rapidly darken from the tips down until the entire leaf is a rose-red color. The stems elongate as lower leaves drop off. The tall inflorescences of rose pink paler centered flowers rise well above the foliage, typically in late fall or winter. Plant in full sun of bright light (plants grown in lower light never develop red coloration. Give occasional irrigation. Hardy to around 25 °F. In the recent book "Echeveria Cultivars" by Lorraine Schultz and Attila Kapitany (Shultz Publishing 2005) it is noted that this plant may be a garden hybrid involving Echveria gibbiflora and is of unknown origin. 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.
The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens in the Santa Barbara area. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information about this plant, even if they disagree with what we have written.
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