Echeveria secunda aka Blue Echeveria

Echeveria secunda is an evergreen succulent from Mexico. It belongs to Crassulaceae, the stonecrop family. Gardeners know it as blue echeveria or hen and chickens. Its native range includes central, northeastern, and southwestern Mexico. Kew places it in desert or dry shrubland. People grow it indoors and in warm outdoor gardens.

The plant forms low clumps of closely packed rosettes. These reach about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] across. LLIFLE gives a foliage height of 0.23–0.49 feet [0.07–0.15 metres]. Flower stalks reach about 1 foot [0.30 metres]. NC State lists an unexplained height maximum of 6 feet [1.83 metres]. This conflicts with both sources' accounts of its low form. Short, fleshy stems creep and make many offsets. Growth is slow, though these offsets build wider patches over time.

The thick leaves range from oval to spoon-shaped or wedge-shaped. They cluster around the stem and taper toward the base. Their blue-green surface has a fine coat of wax. Touch can rub this coat away. Each leaf ends in a small point or bristle. Older leaf edges and tips may turn pink or red. Cool weather can make these colours stand out. The leaves stay on the plant through the year.

Flowers appear in spring and summer, with NC State stressing summer. The curved stalk carries hanging flowers along one side. Their yellow petals contrast with red calyces. The blooms have a narrow, urn-like or lantern-like shape. Plants can flower more than once during their lives. Dry capsules follow the flowers and hold tiny seeds. LLIFLE describes the seeds as brown and slightly long.

Give this plant strong light and soil that drains fast. NC State lists full sun and part shade as suitable. Sandy, loamy, and shallow rocky soils can suit it. It tolerates drought and dry soil, but excess water risks root rot. It needs little upkeep and suits pots, rock walls, and crevice gardens. In warm places, its offsets can form ground cover. Divide established offsets to make more plants. NC State reports no major pest or disease problems. Its tags identify it as safe for cats, dogs, and horses. This does not establish that people can eat it. NC State lists USDA zones 9–12 and warns against hard frost. LLIFLE reports greater cold tolerance in dry plants and some high-elevation clones. Those reports do not establish equal hardiness for every plant.