Scientific Name
Sempervivum 'Unicorn'
Common Name(s)
Hen and Chicks, Houseleek, Live Forever
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Sempervivum
Origin
Sempervivum 'Unicorn' is a hybrid introduced in 1979 by Ed Skrocki (1930-2010) in Ohio, United States. The parentage is unknown.
Description
Sempervivum 'Unicorn' is a small succulent that forms a dense clump of rosettes of downy, olive-green leaves that flush rosy-pink shading to red tips in the summer heat. The rosettes can grow up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter and produce offsets in long pink stolons.
The star-shaped flowers have pink petals with darker stripes. In summer, they appear in clusters on a stout, densely leafy stalk. The rosette dies after flowering but produces many offsets that continue to grow.
How to Grow and Care for Sempervivum 'Unicorn'
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zone 4a to 8a: from -30°F (-34.4°C) to 15°F (-9.4°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. It will naturally die after the mother plant flowers, but by then, the plant has likely produced many offsets that will continue to grow. 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 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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