Succulents are the “ it ” plant taking over dwelling house and garden everywhere . But do you get it on the mind - bending difference between the succulent cousin-german Sempervivum and Echeveria ? After reading this , you ’ll never commix them up again !
At first glance , these russet scab - forming works seem intimately very . Their overweight leaves spiral out into geometric perfection . But look tight – one tiny detail break the chill Sempervivum from the glamourous Echeveria . Can you spot it ?
Let ’s plunge into the shocking differences ( and surprising similarities ) between these lush stunners . By the end , you ’ll be a Sempervivum vs Echeveria expert , beat your plant pals ! It ’s an unmissable succulent confrontation .
Contents
Difference #1: Their Homeland Roots
Sempervivum , those rugged alpines , hail from the mountains of Europe and North Africa . Rocky cliffs and freezing temps of places like the Alps ? No problem for these hardy hens !
ButEcheveriaprefers sunbathing in the deserts of Central America and northwestern South America . carry in property like toasty Mexico , these sunburnt beauties have it off juiceless heat .
Difference #2: Frosty Tolerance
In the winter , Sempervivum shrug off frosty conditions down to -22 ° F without nictitate an arctic leafage . It ’s made for coarse , sub - zero mood in growingzones4 - 10 .
Echeveria , on the other hand , is a cold-blooded - aversediva . While it can technically plow quick freezes in zones 9 - 11 , it much prefers a logical 60 - 75 ° F temperature image indoors .
Difference #3: Spectacular Shades
Both plants form iconic rosettes , but in very different hues . Sempervivum sports muted shade like gray - green , red - brown , and softened pink . Its pointed leaf give off a spiky , almost tartar - like vibe .
In demarcation , Echeveria goes full glamour with vivid greens , gray , and blues . Those plump , rounded farewell in dazzle colors resemble flawless mermaid tails abound forth .
Difference #4: Compact vs Oversized
While both make russet scab , the largest Sempervivum exceed out at just 5 inches across – a humble , understated look . They often grow in dense , intertwined cluster around 2 - 8 inches wide .
But Echeveria does n’t do insidious . These showoffs flaunt giant little potato over 20 inches wide ! A single monster plant life can grab all the attention in the garden .
Difference #5: Flower Power
When Sempervivum blooms wizard - shaped flower in summer , it ’s a small , pernicious social occasion up on short fleshy stems . More decoration than a showstopper .
Echeveria charge up multiple bright , Alexander Bell - shaped blooms of pink , red or orangish that overlook the spotlight . Now that ’s the sort of flowering performance succulent fans endure for !
Difference #6: Baby-Making Machines
Both make loads of endearing offset “ chicks ” around the chief little potato “ hen . ” But their kids take different approaches :
Sempervivum ’s offsets start out attach by runners that allow them to eventually set down their own roots nearby .
Echeveria keeps all its chicks densely clustered together in one inseparable bunch emerging from the nucleotide – a wet - knit work party .
Difference #7: Propagation Potential
Sempervivum plants are quite stubborn when it comes to propagation . They ca n’t beeasily propagatedfrom stem or leaf film editing like other succulent . The most reliable ways are :
Echeveria , on the other hand , is a propagation overachiever ! you could easily multiply your collecting by :
The Similarities
Despite their differences , these cousins do portion out some vulgar bonds :
The family resemblance is strong – it ’s those small quirks that make Sempervivum and Echeveria so distinctly fascinating . Who ’s your ducky : the rustic mountain woman or the showy desert prima donna ?
Caring for Sempervivum
Caring for Echeveria
