starc@t

sunbadgerplants:

My mixed Semp planter. Decided to turn this into a bit of a Semp masterpost. I’ve been adding update pictures throughout the year to show how drastically these plants change from season to season.

Top left = mid April 2016 (shortly after planting)

Top right = mid July.

Edit: (mid left) – mid August

Edit 2: (mid right) – early October

Edit 3: (bottom left) Early February [dormant]

(bottom right) Late April 2017. You can see quite a difference in color and “plumpness” of the plants as they come out of dormancy.

Reasons I love Semps:

1. They change colors over the course of the year (this is dependent on a mixture of light, temperature and age). Note that the colors are most vibrant during the spring and summer, and then fade to be a more uniform greenish tone in the fall. Winter yields a reddish tone on most varieties.

2. They’re winter hardy up to zone 4 and are difficult to kill. Sun, shade, indoors or outdoors; as long as there’s adequate drainage, anyone can grow them just about anywhere.

3. Easiest plant ever to propagate??

4. They come in different sizes, textures, and shapes.

Another interesting note: Adult “hens” will eventually flower and die, usually after about three years, and the “chicks” will quickly fill the gap created. Because of this, they appear to be almost immortal, hence their Latin name, which means “forever living.”

Native to Europe, the ancient Romans associated this plant with Jupiter’s beard and would plant Semps on their sod/thatched roofs, believing that it will protect their homes from the god’s lightning strikes.