Hairy Succulent Identification

[csszal]

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I'm having trouble identifying this cutie. I purchased it from Meijer and it's about an inch and a half in diameter and half an inch tall.

[One Windowsill]

Sempervivum arachnoideum, the cobweb houseleek. Isn't it cute?

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/17075/Cob ... ek/Details" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[csszal]

Thank you so much! I'm in love with it. Does it make a good house plant?

[Carl_B]

[quote="csszal"]Thank you so much! I'm in love with it. Does it make a good house plant?[/quote

I don't know but it's usually grown as a rockery plant.

[Tiggy]

Thank you so much! I'm in love with it. Does it make a good house plant?

Definitely an outdoor plant. Resists all weathers as it originates on the mountains. I am 800m. up on a mountain where the temps go well below zero especially in Feb. two years ago I planted some in/on some rocks near where my other plants go during the summer months, and it has flourished. I think you may have problems to see any flowers if kept inside. Here's a few shots to let you see just how effective they look in a more natural habitat.

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Susi

[wbruan]

Wow! Those flowers are gorgeous Tiggy!

[snarfie]

I have about a thousand independent sempervivums, tried some of the species inside, and they lose most of the wool, go green, elongate and only rarely flower. They really like sun here, and are in black pots on a black underground so they will have a little extra heat, especially in the summer. I only water them if it has not rained reasonably for a month, andmost dont even need it, but then they grow bigger and more beautiful.

[greenknight]

In the middle ages, it was the custom to grow them on roofs in the belief they would protect the house from lightning - thus the nickname "houseleek". I doubt they ever watered them.

[snarfie]

I know someone who is planning to use them as a cheap roof insulation

[Tiggy]

In the middle ages, it was the custom to grow them on roofs in the belief they would protect the house from lightning - thus the nickname "houseleek". I doubt they ever watered them.

I have also heard of this, and also that they protect from witches curses.

Susi

[One Windowsill]

Also called "welcome home husband no matter how late and drunk you may be", apparently. And Jupiter's Beard.

[HairyHarry]

In the middle ages, it was the custom to grow them on roofs in the belief they would protect the house from lightning - thus the nickname "houseleek". I doubt they ever watered them.

And before that, in classical times, they were known to live (almost) eternally. Hence the name Sempervivum - Always living. For that reason they were traditionally planted on gravesides.

Although I suspect that, next to the symbolism of it, people simply liked having an easy plant on a grave. This plant will forgive you when you start neglecting those who have passed.