A month ago I bought this fantastic beauty from a local nursery in Chelsea, attracted by the intensity of colour and the fleshy consistency of the plant. These are tough creatures that are supposed to withstand the extremes of climate in a desert and the systematic lack of water. Which make them perfect for the lack of attention and care that i can provide with prolonged periods of absence from my flat.

This particular species is a slow growing one within the genus of the echeverias and is called Purpusorum, in reference to the two brother botanists who started collecting them, or Urbinia. It is characterised by a deep green colour of the leaves, dotted with red and some compactness of the structure, even more accentuated in my double-headed specimen. To me it is stunnigly beautifcul, almost in contrast to the harsh environment where they come from originally.

I hope soon I can take some bottom leaves from this plant, for propagation of smaller plants in other pots. These plants are also called “hens and chicks” for their prolificity. I will check whether a dry or wet environment is most conducive to better results in their propagation and which method is getting the fastest results.

Echeverias are a large group of more than 150 species of small flowering succulents, originally from Central America, characterised by rosettes of leaves and clusters of rosettes. I would love getting more of them in my small collection, with contrasting shapes and colours, as some varieties are really attractive, with shades of colour ranging from very pale pastel hues to dark and deep variations, like this Urbinia, with waxy and shield-shaped leaves.

Plants and Flowers

Photography 👨🏽‍💻❤️📷