Family: Crassulaceae
Habitat: They are nursery-produced hybrids, so they are not present in nature.
Cultivation: Sedeveria appreciates direct sunlight, which will give it brighter colors. Avoid, however, direct exposure to sunlight during the hottest hours. It is an undemanding plant and adapts easily to different types of soil. Be careful not to overwater.-
Curiosity: Some say Sedeveria was named after the Neapolitan nobleman Raimondo di Sangrio, prince of San Severo, who lived in 1700. However this hypothesis is not confirmed and the origins of the name could be different.

KEY FEATURES

The genus X Sedeveria, as indicated by the X that usually comes along in its name, is not a naturally occurring succulent but a cross of Sedum and Echeveria, two very adaptable and widely cultivated crassulaceae.

They have fleshy stems that bear very rich rosettes of leaves. Over time they can become woody.

The single rosette can reach up to ten centimeters in diameter, while the plant – overall – behaves almost like a large groundcover, developing especially in width.
The rosettes show various shades of green and are often mottled; they are formed by triangular leaves with slightly different shapes: more rounded or sharper depending on the species. The colour of the leaves are the main reason why X Sedeverias are so appreciated: some species, such as the “Blue Mist”, show these gorgeous brught blue leaves, very decorative in a balcony, also together with other pots! Another species, S. “Jet beads”, show an incredible contrast between the outer blue leaves of the rosettes, and the inner ones which are orange-red, creating a gorgeous, rare rosette.

From the center of each rosette sprout stems bearing small calyx-shaped flowers, usually yellow or whitish; like all hybrids, they are sterile. The flowers are grouped in cymes, often scorpioid cymes in particular. A cyme is a peculiar kind of flat-topped inflorescence in which the central flowers open first, followed by the peripheral flowers, as in the onion. Scorpioid cymes are inflorescences shaped like scorpion tails.

VARIETY AND TYPES

The different species of Sedeveria depend on the species of Sedum and Echeveria involved in the crossing. The possibilities are many and not yet all explored. Here below are a few of them:

• S. ‘Blue Burrito
• S. ‘Blue Elf
• S. ‘Darley Dale
• S. ‘Fanfare
• S. ‘Golden Goddess
• S. ‘Green Rose
• S. ‘Letizia
• S. ‘Harry Butterfield’ – Super Donkey Tail
• S. ‘Pat’s Pink
• S. ‘Starburst
• S. ‘Yellow Humbert

Check our online shop to find them!

TIPS FOR GROWING

Born from the crossbreeding of two of the strongest genera in the plant kingdom, the Sedeveria is certainly a good solution to have a glowing balcony or garden with very little effort.

Here are our cultivation tips:

• Sedeveria appreciates direct sunlight, which gives it brighter colors. Avoid, however, direct exposure to the sun during the hottest hours of summer days, if possible.
• Generally they can bear temperatures up to 6-8°C, but in case of intense cold they must be sheltered.
• Sedeveria, like all crassulaceae, need little water. Provide abundant watering but only when the soil is completely dry, to avoid the risk of rottenness. Be careful: the water must be poured directly on the soil, without wetting the rosettes, which could be harmed by stagnant water on their surface!
• A standard soil for cacti will suit your Sedeveria well, being a really tough plant.
• Fertilize once a month, in spring and summer, with a liquid product specific for succulents. Use half of the dose recommended on the package.
• Sedeveria have a rather fast growth and every 1-2 years it will be necessary to repot to support its growth. Prefer large, shallow pots.

Sedeverias reproduce very easily through branch or leaf cuttings, while (being hybrids) they do not produce fertile seeds.