Echeveria is a large genus of succulents in the Crassulaceae family, native from Mexico to north-western South America. The genus is named after the 18th century Mexican botanical artist, Atanasio Echeverría. Many of the species produce numerous offsets, and are commonly known as ‘Hen and Chicks’, which can also refer to other genera such as Sempervivum that are significantly different from Echeveria. They are also often confused with genera such as Aeonium, Graptopetalum and Sedum. Echeveria is regularly crossed with the latter two genera as well as Pachyphytum to create hybrids with the genus names Pachyveria, Sedeveria and Graptoveria. Echeverias are especially well suited to being grown in pots and rockeries which adds to their ease of cultivation. Echeverias are polycarpic, meaning that they may flower and set seed many times over the course of their lifetimes. It is essential in cultivation to use a very porous soil, which will allow quick drainage. Bright light is required to prevent “stretching” of Echeverias. Stretching occurs when a moderately fast growing plant such as an Echeveria, is grown in dim light or over-fertilized, which causes overly lush growth that contributes to weak, pallid plants. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch and let them dry before watering again.

Echeveria pulvinata commonly known as White Chenille Plant, Plush Plant or Velvet Echeveria is a very attractive small shrubby plant, 15 to 30 cm tall and sprawling to about 70 cm in width. It has rusty brown stems that hold thick green leaves and are tipped with small rosettes with all parts densely covered with silvery white hairs so that the plant looks frosted. From late winter into early summer it bears arching 30 cm tall inflorescences, holding racemes of yellow and orange bell-shaped flowers. It prefers a spot where it will receive part to full sun and like most Echeverias prefers well-drained soil with occasional irrigation.