Synonyms:

No synonyms are recorded for this species name.

Habitat:

Echeveria menina is native to South America, with a wide distribution range and a tough, semi-arid habitat.

Description:

Echeveria menina is a tough, ornamental succulent, perfect to decorate your balcony or the entrance of your house. It is the perfect succulent for beginners: neglect in watering and care doesn’t scare it: it will survive any adversities and provide you with a glowing bush of succulent leaves. This plant consists in fact of a bunch of fleshy stem, becoming wooden at their base as the plant ages, that end in apical rosettes of fleshy leaves. The leave are teal in colour, with a hint of purple-reddis on their tip, enhanced by intense sunlight. Slightly tongue-shaped, pointed at their tip (mucronated in botany language), they are arranged very regularly, so that the rosette looks like a flower and adquires a high decorative potential. The blooming season occurs in Summer, when the plant produces plenty of bell-shaped flowers, borne by an elongated stem that sprout from the center of the rosettes. The colour of the flowers is reddish orange.

Cultivation:

All Echeverias are tough plants, used to harsh environments such as the highlands of Mexico and some regions of South America. Echeveria menina is no exception. Here below are our cultivation tips:

Put it in a bright spot, exposed to sirect sunlight all year round, to enhance the reddish tinge of the leaves and the bright green colour of the plant overall.
E. menina can stand temperatures down to 7ºC. We thus advice to grow it in a pot, so that in winter you can simply move it indoors to protect it from cold.
Water your E. menina abundantly in summer and never in winter, unless you a shrivelling of the leaves: in that case, provide some water though out of season. There must never be stagnant water trapped in the rosette! During the irrigation, therefore, pay attention not to wet the leaves.
Echeveria menina is not demanding in terms of soil and fertilizing: just fertilize once, during spring and summer, with a product specific for succulents, rich in potassium and phosphorus and poor in nitrogen.
The soil should be well-draining. You might add some perlite or pumice to enhance drainage.
Repot every year, as it will enhance the vigour of the plant. Also, E. menina is a fast-growing species and needs space.

Propagation:

The propagation of E. menina can be made either by seeds or by cuttings. For their ease of rooting, however, it is advisable to use leaf cuttings or suckers (in this case, small rosettes that sprout laterally). In E. menina, rosettes are produced abundantly and can be taken off during the spring and easily replanted in another pot, where they soon put roots. Unlike other succulents, with Echeverias, cuttings can be left in full sun or at least in a very bright environment. The recommended temperature is around 20° C.

Curiosity:

Echeveria menina is a popular choice for rock gardens, dish gardens, and as a potted plant. It’s drought tolerant and easy to care for making it a great choice for gardeners of all levels. The common name of Echeveria menina is “Blushing Beauty” because of its rosettes of leaves that turn pink when exposed to direct sunlight. The genus name Echeveria is named after the Mexican botanical artist Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy. The species name menina is of Spanish origin and it means “girl” or “little lady” which probably refers to the delicate and graceful appearance of the plant. This succulent is a great option for those who live in dry and arid regions as it is adapted to survive in such conditions, it can store water in its leaves and can survive for long periods without water.

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