Echeveria bifida

Echeveria bifida is a small succulent subshrub in the Crassulaceae family. Its native range lies in Mexico, reaching northeast to Veracruz. LLIFLE also records Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, Hidalgo and Queretaro. It comes from a tropical region with a dry season. Its English name is branched flower hens and chicks. The species varies in leaf shape and colour.

The plant forms compact rosettes on short, mostly unbranched stems. Each rosette holds up to 15 thick, fleshy leaves. Rosettes reach about 0.5–0.7 feet [0.15–0.20 metres] across. The leaves can look like plump spindles or narrow diamonds. Some widen toward the tip rather than the base. Each leaf ends in a point with a small bristle. Colours include pale green, grey-brown, lavender-grey and dark brown. A red tint may overlay these shades. Leaves tend to measure 0.16–0.25 feet [0.05–0.075 metres] long. The longest can reach about 0.33 feet [0.10 metres].

Flowers appear in summer on thin, curved stalks. These rise 0.8–2 feet [0.25–0.60 metres] above the leaves. Each raceme splits into two branches and bears 20–30 flowers. Fleshy bracts share the colour of the leaves and stems. The flowers nod and have a narrow, urn-like shape. Their joined petals open only slightly at the tips. The outside is salmon to pink-orange, while the throat is yellow. Unequal, blunt sepals spread around each flower. These also match the foliage in colour.

The cultivation notes call for an open mix that drains fast. The plant can endure long dry spells without water. Moisture during growth helps it grow more strongly. Waterlogged roots can rot, so drainage matters. It tolerates conditions from sun to shade. Stronger light helps maintain its shape and leaf colour. A sudden move into full sun can scorch the leaves. It withstands light frost, but a warmer winter shelter is preferred. The stated winter range is 5–10°C.

Seed is the usual means of propagation. Leaf cuttings offer another route, though success can be low. Many leaves dry out before they form a new plant. Lower leaves and leaves from flower stalks can serve as cuttings. The evidence gives no species-specific account of edible uses or toxicity.