Echeveria 'Black Prince'

Common name(s): Black Mexican Hen and Chicken, Black Echeveria

Family: Crassulaceae Subfamily: Sempervivoideae

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 28th July, 2025 at Mt. Torrens, South Australia

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington

Flowers

Taken by Ken Harrington

Expand all

Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties

Origin(s)

United States

Cal.: Cultivar

Plant Type

Succulent, Evergreen Succulent, Perennial

Succulent,

Evergreen Succulent,

Perennial

Climate Range(s) - Tolerance

Arid-Humid, Arid-Semi / Steppe, Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub

Arid-Humid,

Arid-Semi / Steppe,

Temperate Cool,

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean,

Tropical-Sub

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Shade - Light

Sun - Full,

Shade - Light

Habitat Range(s)

Garden, Landscape

Garden,

Landscape

Habitat Zone(s)

Coastal Margins, Dry, Dry Valley Slopes, Exposed, Exposed Stony embankments, Garden, Hill Sides, Hills, Landscape, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Ridges, Rock crevices, Sandy Dry, Sandy Moist, Slopes, Well drained

Coastal Margins,

Dry,

Dry Valley Slopes,

Exposed,

Exposed Stony embankments,

Garden,

Hill Sides,

Hills,

Landscape,

Moist Slopes,

Open areas,

Ridges,

Rock crevices,

Sandy Dry,

Sandy Moist,

Slopes,

Well drained

Mature Height

100-150mm

Mature Width

100-150mm

Plant Shape

Rosette

Growth Rate

Slow

Maturity

2-4 yrs.

Life Span

15-30yrs

Leaf Properties

Juvenile Leaf Colour(s) (front)

Green Dark, Green Light, Green-black

Green Dark,

Green Light,

Green-black

Juvenile Leaf Colour(s) (back)

Green Dark, Green Light, Green-black

Green Dark,

Green Light,

Green-black

Leaf Colour (front)

Brown-black, Black-purple, Brown Dark, Burgundy, Burgundy Dark, Orange-brown

Brown-black,

Black-purple,

Brown Dark,

Burgundy,

Burgundy Dark,

Orange-brown

Leaf Colour (back)

Brown-black, Black-purple, Brown Dark, Burgundy, Burgundy Dark, Orange-brown

Brown-black,

Black-purple,

Brown Dark,

Burgundy,

Burgundy Dark,

Orange-brown

Leaf Shape(s)

Oblanceolate

Spathulate

Oblanceolate,

Spathulate

Leaf Texture (front)

Glabrous

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Smooth,

Waxy

Fleshy , Glossy , Thick

Fleshy,

Glossy,

Thick

Leaf Texture (back)

Glabrous

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Smooth,

Waxy

Fleshy , Glossy , Thick

Fleshy,

Glossy,

Thick

Leaf Length(s)

40-50mm, 50-60mm, 60-70mm

40-50mm,

50-60mm,

60-70mm

Leaf Width(s)

25-30mm, 30-40mm

25-30mm,

30-40mm

Leaf Margin(s)

Entire

Leaf Arrangement

Rosette

Leaf Cross Section(s)

Concave

Apice(s)

Acuminate Broad

Aristate

Acuminate Broad,

Aristate

Base(s)

Truncate

Leaf Aroma

None

Leaf Attachment

Collar Divided

Sessile

Collar Divided,

Sessile

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Winter Early

Flowering Time (end)

Winter Late

Colour(s)

Red, Red-orange

Red,

Red-orange

Aroma(s)

None

Flower Shape(s)

Campanulate

Flower Size(s) Width

10-12.5mm, 12.5-15mm

10-12.5mm,

12.5-15mm

Attachment

Pedicelate

Pedicel Colour (flower stem)

Red Dark, Red-brown

Red Dark,

Red-brown

Pedicel Texture

Glabrous, Waxy

Glabrous,

Waxy

Arrangement(s)

Corymb Compound

Terminal

Arrangement Size(s)

150-175mm, 175-200mm, 200-225mm, 225-250mm

150-175mm,

175-200mm,

200-225mm,

225-250mm

Flowers per Arrangement

many

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Bees,

Birds,

Butterflies

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Tap Conical

Fibrous,

Tap Conical

Texture

Fibrous

Invasiveness

None

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Shaley, Stony, Premium Potting Mix

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Shaley,

Stony,

Premium Potting Mix

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline,

Alkaline

Condition(s)

Moist

Moist-Dry

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Poor,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

None

Watering Requirements

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering, WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,

WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering,

WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Moderate

Bird Attraction

Insect, Nectar

Insect,

Nectar

Butterfly Attraction

Moderate

Frog Habitat

None

Coastal

1st Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Retarding

Poor

Drought Tolerance

Good

Frost Tolerance

Light

Snow Tolerance

None

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

-2 - 0°C

Smog Tolerant

Moderate

Landscape Use

Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Heading

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Architectural, Garden-Modern, Garden-Border Plant, Garden-Container, Fire Retarding, Foliage-dark contrasting, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Cottage, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Desert, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Tropical, Garden-Xeriscape, Groundcover, Playground Friendly, Pool side, Specimen, Suckering, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Garden-Architectural,

Garden-Modern,

Garden-Border Plant,

Garden-Container,

Fire Retarding,

Foliage-dark contrasting,

Foliage-interesting,

Garden-Cacti,

Garden-Coastal,

Garden-Cottage,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Desert,

Garden-Indoors,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Mediterranean,

Garden-Rock,

Garden-Tropical,

Garden-Xeriscape,

Groundcover,

Playground Friendly,

Pool side,

Specimen,

Suckering,

Sunny Dry,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Dormancy

Summer

Humidity Requirements

Low, Medium, High

Low,

Medium,

High

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Fertilising Requirements

FR6, FR11

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Strong Winds, Hot / Humid Winds

Strong Winds,

Hot / Humid Winds

Propagation

Offsets, Leaf Cuttings

General Notes

Echeveria 'Black Prince' is a hybrid created by Frank Reinelt of Capitola, California and introduced by Abbey Gardens in 1970. A cross between Echeveria shaviana and Echeveria affinis. A variable Echeveria with black to dark brown leaves and red-orange flowers, a stunning succulent with star shaped rosettes forming a dense clump with offsets.

Propagation Notes

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Leaf Cuttings

Flowering

Winter

Cutting

Summer Early, Spring Late

Material Preparation

Select mature leaves and carefully pull down and sideways to pull them off the stem. Cut across the base of the leaf to tidy up the torn material. Set aside for 1-2 days to callous over and dry the wound area.

Propagating Mix

2 parts washed Propagating Sand + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

ill the seedling tray with mix and firm down. Water tray of mix thoroughly wet with Previcur fungicide. Using a dibber, press leaf gently into tray of mix until it will stand firm, allow space between the leaves for the plantlets to form and grow. Place in a cold house with temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75 %

Nursery Stock 95%

Plantlet Time:- Field Stock 8 - 12 weeks

Nursery Stock 8 - 12 weeks

100mm Pot Mix:- Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 2 parts coarse washed Sand

Offsets

Flowering

Winter

Division

Summer Early, Spring Late

Material Preparation

Usually this is a thinning process as the patch or container gets overcrowded. Dig up a large clump. Seperate the smaller offsets from the larger parent plant. Replant the parent plant if required. Cut off any damaged sections, stems, roots etc. If the offset has no roots and has been removed from a stem or rhizome/root, remove the lower half of the leaves. Place these offsets aside and allow to callous for 1-2 days.

Propagating Mix

Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 2 parts coarse washed Sand

Treatment

Water mix and thoroughly wet with Previcur fungicide. Pot up offsets that have roots attached as soon as possible. Using a dibber, press unrooted offset stem gently into 100mm pot of mix. Place in a cold house with temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 85 %

Nursery Stock 99%

Rooting Time:- Field Stock 8 - 12 weeks

Nursery Stock 8 - 12 weeks