Scientific Name
Sempervivum cantabricum Praeger ex J.A.Huber
Accepted Scientific Name
Sempervivum vicentei Pau
Synonym(s)
Sempervivum vicentei subsp. cantabricum
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Sempervivum
Etymology
The specific epithet "cantabricum" (pronounced "kan-TAB-ree-kum") means "Cantabrian; from, or pertaining to, Cantabria" and refers to Cantabria🡕, an autonomous community and province in northern Spain, the origin of this plant.
Origin
Sempervivum cantabricum is native to Spain. It is not accepted as a separate species and is treated as a synonym of Sempervivum vicentei.
Description
Sempervivum cantabricum, also known as Sempervivum vicentei subsp. cantabricum, is a small succulent that forms rosettes of dark green, densely hairy leaves with a red, pointed tip. The rosettes can grow up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and produce offsets on stout stolons up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) long, forming dense mounds over time. The leaves are fleshy, oblong to obovate, measuring up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) long and 0.4 inches (1 cm) wide.
Mature rosettes send up erect, leafy stalks with a cluster of many star-shaped, 9- to 12-merous flowers that can be red, pink, or white. The flower stalk can grow up to 6.4 inches (16 cm) tall, while the flowers reach a diameter of 0.7 inches (1.8 cm).
How to Grow and Care for Sempervivum cantabricum
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zone 4a to 9b: from -30°F (-34.4°C) to 25°F (-3.9°C).
Sempervivums are not difficult to grow, provided they are not waterlogged and killed by excess watering. They can be easily grown outdoors and in containers, and they earned the name "Houseleeks" from their tendency to root on the roofs of houses. After the mother plant flowers, it will naturally die, but it has likely produced many offsets that will continue to grow by then. These are excellent for cold windows. Sempervivum earned its popular name, "Hen and Chicks," from their growth habit. The mother plant, or hen, sends off numerous offsets clustered around her base like chicks. These offsets can be easily repotted, or the plants can be left to form a clumping mat.
Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot a succulent, ensure the soil is dry, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, removing any rotted or dead roots. Treat any cuts with a fungicide. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill it with potting soil, spreading the roots out as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Sempervivum.
Links
- Back to genus Sempervivum
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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