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Sempervivum tectorum
  • Houseleek

a perennial evergreen member of the Sempervivum genus in the family Crassulaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Sempervivum tectorum has 0 edible uses listed
Sempervivum tectorum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Young leaves and shoots - raw[1]. They can be eaten in salads[1]. The juice of the leaves is used as a refreshing drink[2][3].

Unknown part

Drink

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Sempervivum tectorum.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Houseleek leaves and their juice are used for their cooling and astringent effect, being applied externally to soothe many skin conditions. As with many other remedies that are both astringent and soothing, houseleek simultaneously tightens and softens the skin. The fresh leaves are astringent, diuretic, odontalgic, refrigerant and vulnerary[4][1][5][6][7][8]. They are used as a poultice in much the same way as Aloe vera in the treatment of a wide range of skin diseases, burns, scalds, bites and stings etc and have also been used to get rid of warts and corns[4][9][10][11]. The plant is also sometimes used internally in the treatment of shingles, skin complaints and haemorrhoids, though some care is required since in excess the plant is emetic and purgative[10]. The leaves are harvested as required and used fresh[10].

Unknown part

Astringent
Diuretic
Odontalgic
Refrigerant
Stings
Vulnerary
Warts

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in early spring in a cold frame. It usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 10°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer if they have made sufficient growth, otherwise grow them on for a further year in pots before planting them out[K].

Division of offsets in spring or early summer. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer. Plants can also be divided in September but these divisions should be overwintered in a greenhouse.

Stem cuttings.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Sempervivum tectorum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a well-drained gritty soil in full sun[9]. Succeeds in any sandy soil[12], doing well in very little soil in rock crevices, walls, paths etc so long as there is sufficient humus[9]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[4][9] and dislike winter wet[9].

One of the many common names for this plant is rather interesting, but was too long to put in the common name entry earlier in this record. It is 'Welcome home husband, however drunk you be'. The plant is sometimes planted in thatched roofs since it is supposed to give protection against lightning, thunderbolts and fire to any house that it grows on[13]. It is also said to preserve the thatch[4][14]. There is some justification to this belief because the leaves contain a great deal of water and do not burn easily - if there are many of the plants growing on the roof then they will tend to put out the fire before it can take hold properly. Individual rosettes die after flowering, but usually produce a number of offsets that continue to grow[15].

A polymorphic species, it is divided into a number of sub-species by some botanists[9].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Sempervivum tectorum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Sempervivum tectorum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Sempervivum tectorum
Genus
Sempervivum
Family
Crassulaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3]
Medicinal uses
[4][1][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[16][9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
evergreen
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
0.15 x 0.2 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Insects
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

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"image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.4 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.59.69.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.210.3 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  12. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  13. ? Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press ISBN 0192176218 (1969-00-00)
  14. ? Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
  15. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
  16. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-17

"image:272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Sempervivum_tectorum&oldid=80839"
Facts about "Sempervivum tectorum"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyCrassulaceae +
Belongs to genusSempervivum +
Has binomial nameSempervivum tectorum +
Has common nameHouseleek +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part + and Leaves +
Has edible useDrink + and Unknown use +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has fertility typeInsects +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone4 +
Has image272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has mature height0.15 +
Has mature width0.2 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAstringent +, Diuretic +, Odontalgic +, Refrigerant +, Stings +, Vulnerary + and Warts +
Has primary image272 Sempervivum tectorum.jpg +
Has search namesempervivum tectorum + and houseleek +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy nameSempervivum tectorum +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
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