Scientific Name
Sempervivum wulfenii Hoppe ex Mert. & W.D.J.Koch
Synonym(s)
Sempervivum gaudinii subsp. wulfenii
Common Name(s)
Hen and Chicks, Houseleek
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Sempervivum
Etymology
The specific epithet "wulfenii" (pronounced "wool-FEN-ee-eye") honors Franz Xaver Freiherr von Wulfen (1728-1805), an Austrian botanist, zoologist, mineralogist, alpinist, and Jesuit priest.
Origin
This species is found across most of the central and eastern Alps (Switzerland, Austria, and Italy).
Description
Sempervivum wulfenii is a succulent plant that forms rosettes of fleshy, grey-green leaves with a purple-red base and darker tips. The rosettes can grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter and produce offsets on stout stolons up to 4 inches (10 cm) long. The leaves are oblong to spathulate, measuring up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long and 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) wide. They are glabrous on both surfaces and ciliate along the margins.
The flowers are lemon-yellow and can reach a diameter of up to 1 inch (2.5 cm). They appear in summer in compact clusters at the top of a stalk that can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall. The flower stalk is covered with downy leaves that are slightly recurved at the tips. The rosette dies after flowering.
Subspecies of Sempervivum wulfenii
- Sempervivum wulfenii subsp. juvanii
- Sempervivum wulfenii subsp. wulfenii
How to Grow and Care for Sempervivum wulfenii
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zone 4b to 9b: from -25°F (-31.7°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 have already begun to grow by this time. 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 and remove 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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