Sempervivum 'Faramir'

Scientific Name

Sempervivum 'Faramir'

Common Name(s)

Hens and Chicks

Scientific Classification

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Sempervivum

Origin

Sempervivum 'Faramir' is a hybrid created by Betty Z. Bronow in 1989 in the United States. It is part of the "Lord of the Rings" series and results from a cross between Sempervivum 'Bronze Pastel' and Sempervivum 'Jungle Fires'.

Description

Sempervivum 'Faramir' is an attractive small succulent with fleshy, honey-pink leaves clustered around a soft green center. The rosettes grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter.

The flowers are star-shaped, reddish-purple, and appear in a dense cluster on a leafy stalk that arises from the center of the rosette, reaching up to 8 inches (20 cm) in height. The rosettes die after flowering but produce many offsets that continue to grow.

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zones 4a to 9b: from −30 °F (−34.4 °C) to 30 °F (−1.1 °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. After the mother plant flowers, it will naturally die, but the plant 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, clustering 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 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.

Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Sempervivum.

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