Mexican hen and chicks (Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy')

Mexican hen and chicks

This perennial succulent is grown both indoors and out in sunny, dry soils or rock gardens. Pink-and-yellow flowers grow on stalks in the summer. The highly-unusual shape of its leaves is the result of careful selective cultivation that essentially turned the leaves upside-down.

Scientific classification

Saxifrages, stonecrops and allies

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20 cm to 30 cm

Plant Height

20 cm

Spread

Silver, Blue, Gray, Green

Leaf Color

1 cm

Flower Size

Orange, Pink

Flower Color

Gray, Silver, Pink, Orange

Stem Color

Summer dormancy

Dormancy

Evergreen

Leaf type

20 - 38 ℃

Ideal Temperature

Images of Mexican hen and chicks

Culture

Garden Use

Mexican hen and chicks are fast-growing succulents admired by gardeners for their rosettes of dusty yet waxy silvery-grey leaves and their star-shaped blooms in summer and fall. Mexican hen and chicks are often used in containers and patio planters. They also work well as groundcover and within rockeries.

Symbolism

Endurance, maternal love

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Quickly Identify Mexican hen and chicks

Rosette structure with blue-gray, upward-curving leaves and inverse keel.

Vibrant orange and yellow flowers on tall stalks in late summer/fall.

Leaves are fleshy and light blue, with an upside-down V-shape.

1 foot (30 cm) diameter rosettes with smooth, thick leaves storing water.

Flowers form star-like shapes, non-fragrant, adding vibrant color in summer.

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Care Guide for Mexican hen and chicks

Every 3 weeks

Water

Full sun

Sunlight

20 - 38 ℃

Ideal Temperature

Succulent & Cactus Soil

Soil Type

Water: Mexican hen and chicks thrives in arid conditions with high drought tolerance, needing water only every three weeks. It adapts well to container gardening if provided with good drainage and careful watering, reflecting its ability to survive in low humidity environments.

Fertilize: For optimal growth, mexican hen and chicks thrives on a balanced succulent fertilizer at quarter strength, applied monthly during spring and summer. Fertilization should stop in fall and winter. Apply to moist soil to prevent root burn, adjusting frequency based on growth stage to avoid over-fertilization.

Pruning: Prune mexican hen and chicks in spring and fall to maintain shape and remove dense branches. Use a knife, scissors, and sulfur powder. For propagation, cut a stout stem with 5-6 leaves, apply sulfur to the wound, and plant after healing in slightly moist soil.

Propagation: Mexican hen and chicks is a popular succulent favored for its ornamental appeal and low maintenance. Propagation involves taking a healthy leaf, allowing it to callous, and then placing it in well-draining soil. Consistent, careful watering and bright, indirect light promote successful root development.

Repotting: Repot mexican hen and chicks every two years in spring to support its growth up to 10 inches (25 cm). Use a slightly larger pot with well-draining soil. After repotting, provide bright, indirect light and avoid watering for one week to help the roots recover.

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