Friday, August 27, 2010

Green Wall Plant Feature: Sempervivum 'Cobweb Buttons'





Sempervivum 'Cobweb Buttons'

(Sempervivums are also known as Hens and chicks.)



These 'Cobweb Buttons" are adorable. Super rounded rosettes of tightly packed, bright green leaves are thickly laced with fuzzy white webbing.

The rosettes develop by offsets into crowded, richly textured mats. In summer the older rosettes send out thick stalks bristling with stubby pointed leaves and topped with dense clusters of pinkish-white blooms. Rosettes die after flowering.

Like other succulents, sempervivums don’t ask for deep soils but prefer an infertile sharply drained growing medium. Wet winter conditions will kill them.

Plant them in sandy gravelly infertile soil in sunny rock gardens, stone troughs, or crevices. And as you can see the are very happy in our green wall. Offsets may be severed and rooted in sand to create a whole new plant.

Sun Exposure
Full Sun to part shade.

Soil Type
Normal
Sandy
Well drained

Soil pH
Neutral
Alkaline
Acid

Soil Moisture
Average
Dry

Care Level
Easy

Flower Color
Pink

Blooming Time
Early Summer

Foliage Color
Green with fuzzy white webbing.

Plant Uses & Characteristics
Accent: Good Texture/Form
Alpine & Rock
Attracts Butterflies
Containers
Deer Resistant
Drought Tolerant
Edging
Rabbit Resistant
Evergreen
Ground Cover

Flower Head Size
The rosettes can send up flowers 6 to 8" tall.

Height
2-5 cm
1-2 inches

Spread
20-30 cm
8-12 inches

Foot Traffic
Not recommended.

Growth Rate
Medium