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Baron von Verdant is a Sempervivum tectorum, commonly called Common houseleek · Hens and chicks · Jupiter's beard.

5 sunbeams · 0 sunbursts — Log in to react or follow. 5 followers.

Timeline

  1. Public dramatic_wilter

    Watered and rotated toward the sun.

    1 sunbeam

  2. Public dramatic_wilter

    The variegation on the new leaf is unreal.

    4 sunbeams

  3. Public dramatic_wilter

    Moved closer to the window — seems happier already.

    2 sunbeams

About this plant

Common name Common houseleek · Hens and chicks · Jupiter's beard
Scientific name Sempervivum tectorum
Sun Full sun
Water Low; drought tolerant, avoid soggy soil
Soil Lean, gritty, sharply drained soil
Nickname Baron von Verdant

Fun facts

  • Romans planted houseleeks on roofs, believing they protected the house from lightning — hence "tectorum", meaning "of the rooftops".
  • Each rosette is monocarpic: it flowers once after a few years, then dies, leaving its offsets to carry on.
  • The Latin name Sempervivum means "always alive", a nod to the plant's extreme hardiness and drought tolerance.
  • Its leaves were once used in folk medicine as a cooling remedy for burns and stings, much like aloe.

Photos

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Living wall

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