The Echeveria unguiculata 'Devil's Talons' is a succulent plant belonging to the Sedum genus of the Crassulaceae family. It was introduced by Kimnach in 2002 and is native to Mexico. The Echeveria unguiculata 'Devil's Talons' plant forms a rosette shape with a diameter of up to 10 cm. Its leaves are lanceolate-ovate, with sharp needle-like tips that are black in color. The leaves range from green to gray-black and are covered with white powder, with few ridges. The Echeveria unguiculata 'Devil's Talons' typically grows as a single head and does not clump.
The Echeveria unguiculata 'Devil's Talons' blooms in late spring to early summer, with umbel inflorescences arising from the axils. The small flowers are bell-shaped and orange-pink, with flower stems reaching up to 50 cm.
Growth Habits and Cultivation of The Echeveria unguiculata 'Devil's Talons':
As The Echeveria unguiculata 'Devil's Talons' is originally a wild species, it exhibits robust characteristics, making it resistant to death and clumping while growing slowly. During the growing seasons of spring and autumn, it should be provided with ample sunlight. With sufficient sunlight, The Echeveria unguiculata 'Devil's Talons''s rosette shape becomes more compact, with black thorns at the leaf tips becoming more pronounced. The leaf color may turn black. Insufficient sunlight causes the plant's leaves to spread out, with the black color fading and the leaves turning green. During the growing seasons of spring and autumn, it should be thoroughly watered, with the soil in the pot being about seventy to eighty percent dry before watering. Prolonged drought should be avoided, and during the rainy season, prolonged exposure to rain should be avoided to prevent leaf rot due to water accumulation. In summer, it can tolerate direct sunlight in moderation to prevent excessive elongation and greening of the plant. Watering should be controlled; after the soil in the pot has dried out, a small amount of water should be poured along the edge of the pot. Wrinkling of The Echeveria unguiculata 'Devil's Talons''s leaves indicates dehydration. Ventilation should be improved, and in summer, it should be avoided to water the plant directly from above and to keep the soil in the pot damp for a long time. Loose and well-aerated media, such as peat moss/coconut coir and granular soil in a 5:5 ratio, are suitable for planting The Echeveria unguiculata 'Devil's Talons'. The proportions of the soil mix may vary depending on local conditions and maintenance habits.
Propagation Method of The Echeveria unguiculata 'Devil's Talons':
The Echeveria unguiculata 'Devil's Talons' can be propagated by leaf cuttings or by sowing seeds, with leaf cuttings having a high survival rate. The propagation season can be chosen in spring or autumn.