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James Burghardt
Crassulaceae
Sempervivum 'Silver King'
Hens and Chicks
With its symmetrical evergreen rosettes of fleshy silvery-tinged mint green leaves, 'Silver King' is a garden jewel. It is one of many outstanding hybrid sempervivums deriving from alpine species native to the mountains of southern Europe and western Asia. The rosettes develop by short-stalked offsets into crowded, colorful, richly textured mats. The leaves often intensify in color in cold weather, their strong red-purple centers contrastingly boldly with frost and snow. In summer the older rosettes send out thick erect stems bristling with scaly leaves and topped with clusters of small pink blooms. Rosettes die after flowering.
Like other succulents, sempervivums don’t ask for deep soils but prefer an infertile sharply drained growing medium. Winter dampness is death to them. Europeans have long grown them on tile roofs, whence the common name "houseleeks." Plant them in sandy gravelly infertile soil in sunny rock gardens, stone troughs, or crevices. Offsets may be severed and rooted in sand to create a whole new plant. Severed offsets are also useful for filling the gaps left by dead rosettes.
8 - 1
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Cactus or Succulent
Full Sun, Partial Sun
4"-6" / 10.2cm - 15.2cm
9"-12" / 22.9cm - 30.5cm
Summer
Hybrid Origin
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Sand
Drought
Medium
Drought Tolerant
Rosette/Stemless
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Showy
Brown
Green, Gray Green
No
Single
Yes
Alpine, Container, Rock Garden / Wall
Butterflies
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