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A larger cultivar than its name might imply, I managed to get it to darken through the summer but it was never really black
(I live in a humid, low light area which isn't ideal for getting Sempervivum to colour well). Raised by David Ford in the UK
and registered in 1985. Writing on Sempervivum List, Erwin Geiger says: "Many years ago, I was amazed to observe an almost black spring colouring on this variety for the first time. Absolutely needs full sun and nutrient-poor substrate, greened during the summer." And Volkmar Schara says: "An older breed that stands out especially in spring due to its very dark, almost black coloration. In summer, the small rosettes slowly turn green and show a great play of colours. Super!" Craigiehall Nursery say: "An excellent Houseleek, colourful (is black a colour?) and easily grown. The rosettes are fairly small but they soon make dense, compact clumps. The leaves are dark green for much of year becoming black with fresh growth then reverting to green through summer. A perfect colour to complement all those reds and paler forms in a group. Needs full exposure and perfect drainage like all Houseleeks, but given those, we find it very tolerant of winter wet. 'Black Mini' was one of the first named Semps we ever bought (in the late 1980's) and every year it pleases us." |
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| 9th August 2005 | ||
