Page 3j. Echeveria x 'Edna Spencer'

Echeveria x 'Edna Spencer' H.M. Butterfield
A remarkable cultivar among the American Echeveria hybrids.
In L. Carruthers and R. Ginns book "Echeverias A guide to cultivation and identification" it is described as:-
"E. x 'Edna Spencer'. Originated by H. M. Butterfield. This plant has E. gibbiflora var. carunculata in its parentage, and it slowly forms a stem topped by a tight rosette of carunculated pale blue leaves, which are broadly spatulate with wavy margins. It is compact the rosette growing no larger than 15 cm in diameter".
One of the parents is E.gibbiflora var. carunculata, the other is unknown but I am advised by Reia, formerly of a japanese site, that it could very likely be E. runyonii cv 'Topsy Turvy. Certainly the reversed keel on the leaves is very similar.

The plant forms a compact rosette up to 15 cm Ø on top of a slow growing stem which seems to have difficulty in supporting the densely packed rosette.
As I am writing (3/8/03) the centre of the rosette is developing an inflorescence, I will put a pic. on this page if all goes well. Yes all went well so here is the pic.

CULTIVATION is fairly easy: a well drained compost, plenty of light and good air circulation, plus a minimum temperature of 5/7ºC in the winter, to be on the safe side.

PROPAGATION unknown: It is unlikely that leaves will root, offsets may develop but none have appeared as yet. The flowering stem method may work - we will have to see.
If all else fails, the beheading procedure will hopefully force the stem to produce offsets.
On this second writing (13/2/04), the rosette appears to be splitting into several smaller ones, which may be another possible method of propagation. When and if this situation develops I will take a pic of it before attempting the operation. Alternatively it may be going monstrose or cristate.
Certainly at this stage the plant looks quite different to the colour illustration in L. Carruthers and R. Ginns book.

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