Scientific Name
Sempervivum 'Corsair'
Common Name(s)
Hen and Chicks, Houseleek, Live Forever
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Sempervivum
Origin
Sempervivum 'Corsair' is a hybrid created by David T. Ford in the United Kingdom. The parentage is unknown.
Description
Sempervivum 'Corsair' is a small succulent that grows in clusters of rosettes of hairy green and red leaves. The new growth is initially green but turns deep pink-red as it matures. In the spring, the rosettes have red centers surrounded by green outer leaves, making them particularly lovely. In the summer, the rosettes turn entirely red and retain this color well.
The plant produces small pink flowers tightly clustered at the top of a thick stem during summer.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 4a to 10a: from −30 °F (−34.4 °C) to 35 °F (+1.7 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Sempervivums are not difficult to grow, provided they are not waterlogged and killed from 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. It will naturally die after the mother rosette flowers, but it has likely produced many offsets that will continue to grow by this time. These are excellent for cold windows. Sempervivum earned their popular name, "Hen and Chicks," from their growth habit. The mother plant, or hen, sends off numerous offsets, which will cluster 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 before repotting, 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 as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
Learn 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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