Sempervivum calcareum

Sempervivum calcareum

Crassula rupestris subsp. marnieriana

Crassula rupestris subsp. marnieriana

Sempervivum marmoreum

Balkan Houseleek, Balkan Hen and Chicks, Houseleek, House Leek, Hen and Chicks
Size
ex 9cm pots
Availability: Sold Out
£5.99
Quick Overview
  • Clump-forming succulent rossettes
  • Variable foliage, usually olive-green with maroon tips
  • Pink or reddish flowers when mature
  • Ideal on green-roofs, gravel gardens or in dry stone walls
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Sempervivum marmoreum, Balkan Houseleek, is native to southeastern Europe in a geographical area spanning the Balkans, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece and western Ukraine with the type species locality being Mount Athos in Greece. It is diploid (2n=34) with pink or reddish flowers. It is sometimes found in garden centres under the deprecated synonym of Sempervivum schlehanii. It is a very variable species particularly in the colouration of the foliage and the degree of indumentum on the foliage with some variants being almost entirely glabrous with very few cilia and other variants being densely pubescent. Even at the type locality of Mount Athos there is variability with glabrous forms with ciliate margins being found at higher altitudes and more pubescent morphotypes found at lower altitudes. Most subspecies have now been redefined within the original species. Plants from the Rila Mountains in Bulgaria are a densely pubescent variant with short, velvety hairs on the foliage and were previously described as Sempervivum erythraeum or Sempervivum marmoreum subsp. erythraeum. However, another subspecies, Sempervivum marmoreum subsp matricum - found further north in the border regions of Hungary and Slovakia - has now been described as a separate species, Sempervivum matricum and has a different ploidy being tetraploid (2n = 68).

Sempervivum marmoreum is a gem. The plants offered here are close in morphology to the Mt. Athos lectotype from higher altitudes: a densely-rosetted glabrous form with fine ciliate margins, freely offsetting and with a tough I-will-survive attitude. So much more desirable than all those dubious cultivars with an unknowable parentage that you find in garden centres.


Additional Information

Order Saxifragales
Family Crassulaceae
Sub-Family Sempervivoideae
Synonyms Sempervivum assimile, Sempervivum balcanicum, Sempervivum ballsii, Sempervivum banaticum, Sempervivum blandum, Sempervivum brunneifolium, Sempervivum degenianum, Sempervivum erythraeum, Sempervivum italicum, Sempervivum marmoreum subsp. ballsii, Sempervivum marmoreum var. blandum, Sempervivum marmoreum subsp. blandum, Sempervivum marmoreum f. rubicundum, Sempervivum michaelis-borsii, Sempervivum reginae-amaliae, Sempervivum rubicundum, Sempervivum schlehanii
Geographical Origin Southeastern Europe: Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine
Cultivation Well-drained sandy, gravelly soil. A mixture of alkaline soil and grit is ideal. Grows well in rock crevices, on dry stone walls and on roof tiles. Full sun
Eventual Height 3-6cm
Eventual Spread Clump forming: 30-50cm
Hardiness Very hardy - down to -20C
Sempervivum marmoreum
Balkan Houseleek, Balkan Hen and Chicks, Houseleek, House Leek, Hen and Chicks
Size
ex 9cm pots
Availability: Sold Out
£5.99
You could receive 20 Palm Points for writing a review for this product.
Add to My Wishlist Add to Compare Email to a Friend
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