Echeveria peacockii

Who can resist a plant with a last name like this? Peacockii is an extraordinary Echeveria, seldom if ever, offered for sale and quite distinct from all other species. Forming 15cm (6in) rosettes of iridescent glaucous-blue leaves that can become tipped in red. It will grow to become a nice-sized clump.

Like those of other succulents, the summer blooms of echeveria tend to be spectacular and very long lasting. The flowers which appear in June, have clusters of orange-red bell shaped blooms on gracefully arching stems. Individual flowers may be nearly one-half inch in diameter.
Echeveria are polycarpic, meaning that they may flower and set seed many times over the course of their lifetimes. The spikes of showy, urn or bell-shaped flowers can be yellow, red or white with some having unusual hues.
Echeveria are native to Latin America, specifically Argentina and Mexico and are hardy only to around 5°C (41°F). They do not like high humidity, frost or cold weather but can tolerate searing high temperatures.

Echeverias lend themselves to all sorts of plantings; these colourful rosettes grow into large plants which will make striking single plants in a pot in time. They are also very good for mass planting, when smaller. Also known as Echeveria 'Desmetiana' in Europe, where this form of the species is often selected for use in carpet bedding. It divides easily without losing colour and is easy to overwinter. No collection of succulents is complete without the iridescent echeverias.

Sowing: Sow indoors at any time of year.
Fill small pots or trays with a light and well-aerated compost. (John Innes Seed Compost, with the addition of 50% gritty horticultural sand is an old favourite). Do not firm the mixture down. Stand the pots in water, moisten thoroughly and drain. It is a good plan to stand the containers on a tray of damp sand, so that they do not dry out.
Scatter the seed onto the top of the compost. Do not cover seed as they require light for germination, but avoid direct sunlight by shading the seeds after sowing.

If possible, germinate in a propagator otherwise, secure a polythene bag around the pot or cover the container with glass or and place in a warm shaded place. Many people make use of a warm place such as the airing cupboard, or near the kitchen boiler. Care should be taken to prevent the pots drying out from below.
The majority of seeds germinate best at a temperatures of 20 to 22°C (68 to 72°F). Germination will usually take 30 to 180 days, patience is required, don't throw away the tray too soon.
Once germination has taken place, remove the glass or plastic and move into a good light. Be careful to keep the top of the compost damp. As soon as the first seeds have germinated, remove the plastic or raise the lid slightly to permit some circulation of air.
From now on, the tiny seedlings need to be in a good light, but must be protected from direct sun. Shading from all but winter sun is desirable for the first 12 months.

Cultivation:
Growth is slow, 6 to 8 weeks after sowing transplant to single small pots 7cm (3in) Grow on at 18 to 25°C (64 to 77°F) during daytime and 15 to 18°C (59 to 65°F) during night.
Cooler temperatures in the night are better for the foliage pigmentation. Temperatures below 15°C (59°F) will result in leaf deformation. Echeveria does not tolerate frost.
After 12 to 14 months transplant into a bigger pot (9 to 13 cm).

During the growth period Echeveria needs a relative high amount of water and in winter Echeveria needs a dry substrate. Avoid over head irrigation, because wet leaf rosettes rot rapidly. Moderate fertilisation levels are required during the spring and summer, but don't fertilise after mid September.

Nomenclature:
The genus is named after the 18th century Spanish botanist, Atanasio Echeverria Codoy.
They are a large genus of succulents in the Crassulaceae family and native to Latin America, specifically Argentina and Mexico.

Of Interest:
During the Victorian era, some of the echeverias were used for bedding out planting schemes. Throughout the world there remain a scattering of professional horticulturists who still construct floral clocks and other carpet bedded incursions of technical insanity into the economic fabric of local government, and almost without exception, this is the blue grey plant of choice.
The Floral Clock was a form of carpet bedding introduced by John McHattie of Edinburgh Parks in 1903 and soon imitated across the World. The working Clock is the oldest in the world. It is made with thousands of varieties of plants and is re- created each year designed to commemorate special occasions.
There are many clocks throughout the parks and gardens of the UK, and the world, including the most famous in Geneva, Switzerland, the most visited at Niagara Falls, Ontario, and the largest in Tehran, Iran