(Echeveria)

Remarkable for its coral-like hues, this rosette-forming evergreen succulent was raised by Richard Graessner of Perleberg, Germany, some 75 years ago. It remains a popular variety. A hybrid of Echeveria gibbiflora 'Mettalica' and E. elegans, it produces one or more ground-hugging rosettes of spirally arranged, rounded, gray-purple leaves that shade to rosy mauve at the rosette's center. The entire rosette is dusted with a silvery patina. Each rosette may attain the breadth...

(Echeveria)

A recently introduced hybrid that departs from most other echeverias in color and form, this tender succulent forms large rosettes of thick fleshy gray-green leaves with frilly pink fringes. As with most echeverias, the broadly triangular, fleshy leaves are evergreen. They cluster in symmetrical, waxen, many-leaved rosettes that grow as wide as dinner plates. A tall spike topped with showy orange flowers rises from each rosette's center in late summer, attracting hummingbirds. Plants spread by offsets,...

(Echeveria, Mexican Gem, Mexican Snowball)

Mexican Gem is native to Mexico and has succulent leaves that form a stemless rosette. This species produces a silver-blue rosette that puts forth disproportionately long spikes of pink and yellow flowers in spring or summer. This plant is a wonderful clumping colonizer and develops off-shoot babies that spread and root where they touch soil, often giving them the name of tropical hens and chicks.

This succulent thrives in full sun and prefers dry sandy soil that is moist in summer. Occasional...

(Plush Plant)

This soft little fuzzy succulent has beautiful leaf color that adds interest to small gardens and pots. It is a rosette-forming species that hails from northern Mexico. This evergreen forms small asymmetrical rosettes comprised of fleshy, football-shaped leaves with a burnished-red cast along the leaf edges. The rosette will occasionally send out pups, or lateral plantlets. As these accumulate, the plant develops a mound-like habit.

This succulent has large, beautiful flowers, but it is not a...

(Echeveria, Painted Lady)

Providing year-round interest with its bold rosettes of colorful evergreen leaves, this beautiful succulent perennial is native to dry limestone cliffs in central Mexico. The rather loose rosettes of fleshy, oval, gray-green, maroon-striped leaves are borne atop short stems. Plants develop into architectural mult-stemmed clumps. In summer and early fall, each rosette may produce a knee-high flower spike bearing small red-flushed pale yellow blooms.

This cold-tender, sun-loving perennial needs...

(Peacock Echeveria)

An almost luminous presence in the succulent garden, this Mexican echeveria produces a ground-hugging rosette of fleshy blue-green leaves heavily dusted with shimmering silver. Measuring up to 16 cm (5 inches) wide, the rosette comprises 20 or more spirally arranged, spade-shaped leaves with pointed or bristled tips. A calf-high flower stem arises from the rosette's center in early summer, terminating in a cluster of red flowers. The blooms attract hummingbirds. Plants occasionally produce additional...

(Echeveria)

Spreading relatively rapidly to form clumps of large silvery ground-hugging rosettes, this Mexican native is one of the most commonly grown echeverias. Comprising 20 or more spirally arranged, blue-green, silver-dusted leaves, each rosette can grow as wide as a dinner plate. The spade-shaped leaves terminate in a small bristle. A compact stem topped with a branching cluster of orange, bell-shaped flowers arises from the center of each rosette in late summer or early fall, attracting hummingbirds....

(Echeveria, Topsy Turvy Echeveria)

Literally a new twist on the Mexican native Echeveria runyonii, 'Topsy Turvy' has leaves that are curiously curled and folded. It spreads relatively rapidly to form clumps of large ground-hugging rosettes, each comprising 20 or more spirally arranged, blue-green, silver-dusted leaves. Each rosette can grow as wide as a dinner plate. The up-curled leaves are folded lengthwise, appearing chevron-shaped in cross section. A compact stem topped with a branching cluster of orange, bell-shaped...

(Hybrid Coneflower)

A compact, prolifically blooming purple coneflower, this Chicago Botanic Garden introduction is a hybrid of three echinacea species. For many weeks in summer, this hardy herbaceous perennial bears medium-sized daisies with perky horizontally held rose-pink petals surrounding a large orange-brown "cone." The blooms draw flocks of butterflies. The petals drop after withering, leaving the seed-bearing cone. The rough, lance-shaped, dark green leaves are narrower than those of "standard" purple coneflowers....

(Hybrid Coneflower)

The hot, hot daisies of 'Firebird' have petals that are vibrant red towards the dark cones and taper to bright orange. The narrow petals angle downwards, causing the blooms to resemble badminton shuttlecocks. This compact, bushy coneflower was developed at Terra Nova Nurseries in Canby, Oregon. Plant it in masses for a midsummer color explosion.

Coneflowers grow best in full to partial sun and rich to average soil with good drainage. They are not overly water thirsty, but do check to make...