Scientific name: Echeveria elegans
Common name: Mexican Snowball
The Echeveria is one of the most well-known of its species. The light-green rosette does well in the dark. It’s often referred to as “hens and chicks,” not “sempervivum.”.
Quick Look at Echeveria elegans
- Full sun to partial shade
- Typical water needs for a succulent
- Plant grows up to 8″ (20 cm) tall
Plant grows up to 12″ (30.5 cm) wide - Zone 9a (Minimum 20° F | -6.7° C)
- Not cold hardy
- Propagation by offsets and leaves
- Generally non-toxic to humans and animals
- Winter Dormant
General Care for Echeveria elegans “Mexican Snowball”
This common Echeveria can be used as ground cover, as part of a wedding bouquet, or on a green roof. It was said to drive away evil spirits.
Watering
The watering needs for a Succulent is typical. The “soak and dry” method will allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
Where to Plant
If you live in a zone that gets colder than 20 F, it’s best to plant the Echeveria in a container that can be brought indoors. It does well in both full and partial sun.
You can plant in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, place a room that gets a lot of sunlight near a southern-facing window.
How to Propagate Echeveria elegans “Mexican Snowball”
Echeveria elegans “Mexican Snowball” is a propagator, growing many “chicks” from offsets. You can spread it from its leaves.
Offsets
There will be small offsets around the base of the plant. Pull these up and allow the offsets to dry for a day or two.
Leaves
Choose a firm, healthy leaf to start the propagation of Echeveria elegans. Remove it from the main plant by twisting the leaf. If you take a bit of the stem with the leaf, you should not leave any of the leaf on it.
Allow the leaf to be calloused for several days, and then lay on the soil. Water when the soil has dried. After roots and a leaf have appeared, plant the new growth.