Southport, Merseyside, UK. 21st August, 2015. Britain’s biggest independent flower show, celebrates with a carnival-like celebration of all things Chinese. Oriental themed events, entertainment, food and floral marquees will all be inspired by Chinese culture and design. Credit: Cernan Elias/Alamy Live News.
The common names and history of Sempervivum are as interesting as the plant itself. Translated, Sempervivum means “always living,” or the common name of live forever. A common European name, derived from the practice of growing them on rooftops, is houseleek. In the United States they are most commonly known as hens and chicks, though they are sometimes called cats and kittens or even old man and old woman. Sempervivums are hardy alpine succulents in the Crassulaceae family. In their natural habitat, they are usually found 3,000-8,000 feet above sea level in the mountainous regions of Central and Southern Europe and Mediterranean Islands. As mentioned previously, in some places Sempervivums were/are grown on rooftops, between the thatching, tiles or timbers. In ancient times, they were thought to guard against thunderbolts, storms and sorcery, and to ensure the prosperity of the occupants. There is now a company in Germany that exports them as rolls of carpet or roofing material. They even had an exhibit at the 2003 Chelsea Flower Show. Though it is not recommended to use Sempervivum for medicinal purposes, it did hold a place in traditional medicine. The Romans considered the juice to be useful in protecting crops from caterpillar infestation. There are approximately fifty species and over 6,000 named cultivars of Sempervivum. They vary in color, texture and size. Colors include green, silver, deep maroon, brilliant red and many shades and combinations in between. While some are smooth to the touch, others are velvety or even look as though they are covered in spider webs (Sempervivum arachnoideum). Their size ranges from one-quarter of an inch to thirteen inches in diameter! Sempervivums are related to Jovibarba and Rosularia and are distinguished by their flowers. Sempervivum care is easy, but the key is that they thrive on neglect. They will live much longer if carelessly thrown on concrete and forgotten.
Size: 2334px × 3500px
Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK
Photo credit: © EnVogue_Photo / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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