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Raised by Sandy MacPherson in the USA, it was an oddity when it was released in 1978 and although there are a couple of other similar cultivars now, it remains an oddity.
The purple tipped green leaves are curled back from the margins into a tubular shape. Horst Diehm said: "an unusual mutation of S. albidum, the leaf base is twisted, the rest of the leaf is tubered, green with deep purple tips, lazy to bloom (not yet flowered in my collection for 13 years)". Erwin Geiger is quoted on Sempervivum List: "A "stable" mutation of S. tectorum with tubular leaves, i.e. the daughter rosettes do not revert to their original form. This cultivar has been known since the 60s and was introduced from the USA. A bit more sensitive to moisture, but growing well - see also 'Grigg's Surprise'!" The Llifle Encyclopedia of Succulents says: "Garden origin (It was developed by American succulent enthusiast Sandy McPherson and it was introduced to gardeners in 1977, and won the 1978 Bronze Rosette Award for best new variety. ) Oddity is an evergreen rosette succulent with a mat forming growth habit with densely clustered leaves. Differently to the leaves of most sempervivums (That are broad and pointed) the ones of 'oddity' are folded lengthwise and backwards so that they look like green cigarette papers. Also very reminiscent of Crassula ovata cv. 'Gollum' cv. 'Hobbit'). 'Oddity' is relatively rapid growing cultivar that forms little clumps that continues to spread. This cultivar occasionally has a tendency to mutate with completely flat leaves." |
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| 25th May 2005 | ||
