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Echeveria runyonii Topsy Turvy
Place ideally in a sunny position.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. In winter, limit watering.
It can tolerate temperatures as low as -3.9 °C, or lower temperatures in the short term. However, the plant is not hardy.
The bizarrely curved leaves curl their tips inwards towards the centre of the rosette. This is a very interesting leaf twist.
Echeveria runyonii Topsy Turvy, also known simply as Echeveria Topsy Turvy, is a succulent plant bred from the traditional Mexican Echeveria runyonii. It gets its name from Myron Kimnack, former director of the Huntington Botanical Gardens.
The leaves of this Echeveria grow arranged in rosettes and are colored light blue-green to silvery gray, often with pink tips. A thick waxy coating covers the surface of the leaves, giving them a white tinge. They are usually bizarrely curved and appear to be inverted, with the tips pointing inwards towards the centre of the rosette. Many of the lower leaves dry naturally in winter and should be removed continuously. Succulent rosettes grow up to 12-15 cm in diameter.
The flowers of this plant are bright orange and grow above the leaves on tall, arching stems. Compared to other Echeveria, they flower much later, towards the end of summer.
Echeveria runyonii Topsy Turvy is a fast growing succulent that is drought tolerant. It can survive without water in cooler places (e.g. a cold frame) as well as on the inside windowsills of heated houses. It is an undemanding plant, and can survive the harsh conditions that can occur during cultivation. This makes it popular even with novice growers, and it impresses especially with the shape of its silvery leaves.