Sempervivum marmoreum

Scientific Name

Sempervivum marmoreum Griseb.

Synonym(s)

Sempervivum tectorum var. marmoreum

Common Name(s)

Hen and Chicks, Houseleek

Scientific Classification

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

Etymology

The specific epithet "marmoreum" (pronounced "mar-MOH-ree-um") means "marble-like; marbled" and refers to the red tips and irregular red or brown flushing over the green background of the leaves of this species, which can create a marble-like appearance.

Origin

Sempervivum marmoreum is native to south-eastern Europe (Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece, etc.) and central Europe (Slovakia, Hungary). It grows on rocky outcrops with southern exposure.

Description

Sempervivum marmoreum is a small succulent that forms rosettes of fleshy, green leaves with red tips. The rosettes can grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter and produce offsets, usually on short stolons. The leaves are glabrous but pubescent when young and often flushed with red or brown.

The reddish-purple flowers with white margins appear in dense clusters at the top of erect stalks with slightly hairy leaves in summer. They are star-shaped and can reach a diameter of 0.8 inches (2 cm). The flower stalks can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) tall.

Subspecies of Sempervivum marmoreum

Sempervivum marmoreum subsp. ballsii (treated as a synonym of Sempervivum marmoreum subsp. marmoreum by some authors)
Sempervivum marmoreum subsp. erythraeum (treated as a separate species Sempervivum erythraeum by some authors)
Sempervivum marmoreum subsp. marmoreum
Sempervivum marmoreum subsp. matricum
Sempervivum marmoreum subsp. reginae-amaliae

How to Grow and Care for Sempervivum marmoreum

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 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.

See more at How to Grow and Care for Sempervivum.