What's the difference??

Discussion in 'Cacti and Succulents' started by Quincys Slave, Apr 27, 2008.

  1. Quincys Slave

    Quincys Slave Active Member

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    This might be a dumb question but what is the difference between a Echeveria and a Sempervivum?? I thought one was a perennial and one an annual but I'm confused ?!
     
  2. Cereusly Steve

    Cereusly Steve Active Member

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    There are many difference.

    Both genera are usually rosulate perennials but some Echeveria species are shrubby.

    When you see the two in bloom there is no mistaking them.

    Echeveria have flower stems that arise from the sides of the rosettes and have tubular five parted flowers. The rosettes can produce flower stems for years without dying.

    Sempervivum have star-like flowers with many more than five petals. The flower stems arise directly from the center of the rosette and the entire plant dies after flowering.

    Google some pix of both and compare them for yourself.
     
  3. Bambi

    Bambi Active Member

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    In addition to what Steve has said, Sempervivum are frost hardy whereas Echeveria need to be kept indoors for the winter. Echeveria can be grown as an annual outside, but they do make an attractive houseplant. Echeveria leaves are usually a lot more swollen than Semp leaves.

    Now, can anyone tell me the difference between Jovibarba and Sempervivum? (Besides where they come from...haha.)
     
  4. Cereusly Steve

    Cereusly Steve Active Member

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    Jovibarba is sometimes united with Sempervivum but the two genera are very different even when not in flower.

    Jovabarba have flowers with six erect yellow petals with fimbriate margins. The rosettes form caespitose clumps or branch dichotomously in Jovibarba hueffellii or produce easily detached globose plantlets (tumblers) in the leaf axils in the rest of the species.

    Sempervivum have stellate purple, pink yellow or rarely white flowers with 20 or more petals that may be hairy on the back but never fimbriate margined. The rosettes produces offsets on elongate runners.

    Sempervivum and Jovibarba are completely cold hardy.

    Not a single species of Echeveria has proven to be cold hardy in areas that have below freezing winters. Would recommend overwintering them in a greenhouse. They don't make good "houseplants" because the rosettes will elongate in poor light. They can be grown outdoors in the summer as bedding plants (not annuals) and moved indoors over the winter.
     

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