Echeveria flowers
June 17, 2009
I adore these flower-shaped succulents for their texture, color, and form.
But of course they do flower, on long-blooming, fishhook-shaped stalks, and those are interesting too.
Unfortunately, sempervivums are monocarpic (they die after blooming), which I didn’t realize when I bought these mature specimens. Fortunately, they have been offsetting new plants in recent weeks, which I hope will soon fill in for the mother plants when they die. Update: Thanks to several readers, I’ve learned that these are actually echeverias, not sempervivums. These do NOT die after blooming. Yea!
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I love the color and form of succulents. They have an out of this world quality.
I like the succelents too. Always sad to see the mature plant wither away after the bloom period.
There’s something about those blooms that I just love. I have to close my eyes when I pass by them in the nursery, just so I won’t be tempted to buy more succulents that I don’t really need!
THanks for the heads-up, Pam. I’ve got one of these in a pot on our front porch – we’ve loved watching it bloom. But we have to be prepared to say goodbye; just like we have to one of our three agave celsii 🙁 I’m hopeful about its babies too, like you.
I didn’t realize that they die after blooming! They are so lovely.
I’ve been pinching and rooting sedum lately. Lots and lots of new plants.
Cameron
I didn’t realize they died after blooming. Good info so I will be on the lookout for babies and not just think I can’t grow them. I have just gotten into these plants and like the interesting texture they provide to plantings.
Lovely photo’s Pam! I tried to capture the blooms on mine for Bloomday but failed miserably. I love these plants!
I think I’m finally coming around to the world of succulents. In this weather, it only makes sense. Your photos make me even more inspired!
You’ve captured beautifully the gray and pink foliage of succulents…just lovely. gail
My brain knows they flower, but I am always surprised when I see it happen.
I thought only sempervivums died after blooming. I have an Echeveria and it has bloomed before and has not died. Someone on a blog also said if you cut the bloom off sempervivums they won’t die. I have not tried that but I thought I would after reading that! Any thoughts?
Yes, Cindee, only sempervivums. And you’re right, I do have an echeveria in the top photo (the pink one). Sorry about the confusion. As for cutting off the bloom to save the plant, I’ve wondered if that would work too, but I haven’t tried it. —Pam
My Semps are also making puppies. It is fun to watch them emerge from below the mother plant.
Ironic, isn’t it, that a plant with the name “sempervivum” would prove not to live forever after all…
Graminées, Hostas, jolies images…tout ce que j’aime!
Your Photography are beautifull !
From Switzerland…Thank you for the Balade on your Blog
My problem is I love to water, I have not learned my lesson yet, sigh….
How funny – I almost bought 3 of these exact echeverias today! Great minds!
That’s too bad. I’m all about plants that live forever and against all odds! I have a hard enough time keeping hardy plants alive!
The pink succulent in the 1st pic is a Graptopetalum superbum. Nice blog! Enjoyed my visit!