The original plant of Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony’ was wild collected from habitat near Coahuila, Mexico, by John Trager and Myron Kimnach and it was first distributed by the International Succulent Introduction (ISI). Since its introduction into cultivation in early 2000, Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony’ has been a collector’s delight. Slower to offset compared to other Echeveria agavoides types and greater growing difficulty in cultivation have kept the price up. Demand in Europe and Asia in turn has kept supply limited. I bought my first Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony’ six years ago on eBay for $75. That might sound cheap for this plant back in the day when you consider Asians were buying these for $500+ and shipping them back home. The Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony’ I received back then was only 2 inches in diameter and died a few months later. Since its untimely death I avoided looking for a replacement due to high cost. Fast forward to last week and an opportunity presented itself which I couldn’t pass up.
Many of those shown above were old, sun-grown Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony.’ And the best part? They were only $50! I was scared to ask for the price again, thinking the owner might have misspoken. But the seller reiterated the price was $50, so two ended up in my car for the ride to their new home.
Often confused with the really available Echeveria agavoides ‘Lip Stick,’ Ebony typically have wider leaves which are also more dull green in appearance. The most desirable trait of Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony’ are the maroon to dark purple leaf tips. In perfect specimens, this coloration extends around the entire top half of the leaf. Cool weather will really bring out the deeper color, making winter the best time to admire this plant.
Perhaps someday, with great care, one of the plants I just bought will look like this exceptional Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony’ I saw at the SDCSS Summer Plant Show last year.
The flower on Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony’ is not a selling point like it can be on other Echeverias types. In fact, after I took the photos for this blog post, I actually removed all the flowers from my two plants.
Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony’ is becoming more readily available thanks to all the tissue culturing being done on it. I have been to two nurseries recently where they had pots upon pots of seedlings being grown up for resale in the future. The plants that do end up in tissue culture are usually the nicest form you can find. For this reason I bought two different tissue culture forms off eBay last year. I am still a few years away from seeing how nice these turn out. Each of these plants was $30. A far cry from the $75 I paid for a smaller plant years back.
One reason I was so excited to find a good deal on these large plants is that I had a pot just waiting around to be planted out with Echeverias. Now that I finally found the sun-hardened center piece in my new Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony,’ I was able to finish it. I love how it turned out.
I know for many plant buyers, $50 won’t feel like the price has dropped on Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony.’ However, for a guy used to seeing them sold for hundreds of dollars, I feel as though I got a heck of a deal. To each their own.
I’ve seen them here in Berkeley at $10 each for decent 3″ pots, and I couldn’t resist buying a dozen for my client’s garden. Nice to get the history for this plant. I saw a specimen container planting of these at the Don Worth garden in Mill Valley that was simply stunning a few years ago, so was very happy to see them available now as reasonably priced tissue-cultured plants
$10 is a good deal even if they are small 3 inch pots. You sure they were not ‘Lip Stick’?
Labeled as Ebony, and did look different from the Lipstick’s I have already. I suspect Tissue Culture is bringing the price down, but they’re still hit or miss to find at retail nurseries here in the Bay Area.
Great price. Tough to grow at that small size I have found. They really rot easily.
I have purchased 4 they cost me $80 each they are in 170ml pots. I collect them late September. Can’t wait.
Congrats! They pup a lot, so you will soon have plenty more.
Hey Len! I’m loving the Echeveria community pot, what other ech’s are in there with the agavoides ‘ebony’? I’m absolutely in love with the two blue-ish ones…
Hi Jeighmee,
I like that one a lot too. I wish I could post pictures in these comments fields to show the colors it has now. It almost glows this time of year. That plant is called Echeveria ‘Tippy.’
I see you have them outside. How is your rainfall? Do you get rains in the hot month of the year? I believe rain and heat are deadly combo for some agavoides. I want to plant mine in the garden but not sure how our summer rains will affect it.
Neil, mine do fine in our mediterranean climate at 15 inches rain a year. But I water spring though fall. The key is a fast draining soil. You might lose a few, that happens.
Wow! After reading these comments, I realize how lucky I was buying one at a lawn and garden show 2 years ago in a 6″ pot for $20! It has finally gotten some pups on it. I’ve been told that you can’t propogate these from leaves. Is that correct?
Not true. You can as I have. Just not as easy as the more leafy-types.