Photo: Ulises Emmanuel Martínez BurgosCC BY 4.0

2 named cultivars

cactus succulentN. America Native

Echeveria

The Story

Plant Bio

Echeveria secunda, the hen and chicks echeveria, is a low mounding succulent from Mexico, forming tight rosettes of oval blue-green leaves with pointed tips, up to six inches across. It offsets freely into clustered colonies, and arching stems carry small funnel-shaped flowers in yellow, orange or pink well above the foliage in summer.

The leaves carry a pale waxy bloom that gives the blue colour, and it rubs off permanently at a touch, so handle rosettes by the base rather than the leaves. Offsets pull away with a little root and establish immediately, which makes a single plant into a colony within a couple of seasons at no cost.

Uses & Benefits:

Symmetrical blue-green rosettes with a waxy bloom, offsetting into neat clustered colonies.

Needs almost no water or attention, and multiplies itself freely from offsets and leaves.

Pollinators visit the arching flower stems; the plant is grown mainly in containers outside its range.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Cactus Succulent

Height

6 inches

Width

8 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

9, 10

Water

Low

Humidity

Low

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Mexico

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Grow in full sun or bright light for tight rosettes.
Use gritty, free-draining cactus compost.
Water thoroughly, then let it dry out completely.
Water into the soil, never into the rosette.
Keep it dry and frost-free over winter.
Detach offsets to build a colony.

Pro Tip

Water into the compost rather than the rosette — water trapped between the leaves is what rots the crown in a healthy-looking plant.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it full sun for compact rosettes ☀️
Use gritty, free-draining compost 🌵
Let it dry out fully between waterings 💧
Detach offsets to make more plants 🌱

Don't

Water into the centre of the rosette ❌
Handle the leaves and rub off the bloom ❌
Leave it wet or frozen over winter ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rest
Water

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Succulent container and trough plantingRock garden and wall crevices in dry regionsBright windowsill houseplant

Companion Plants

Hens And Chicks SedumHaworthia AloeCreeping Thyme

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Echeveria questions

What zones can Echeveria grow in?

Echeveria is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Echeveria deer resistant?

Yes — Echeveria is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Echeveria bloom?

Echeveria typically blooms in summer through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Echeveria need full sun?

Echeveria does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Echeveria drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Echeveria handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.