I've been interested in the unusual sempervivum for some time now, but it's difficult to find specimens or hear about the unusual stuff. I'm starting this thread to have a place here for this topic. I'd really like to find a source of Whirl-i-gig and some of the crested forms. Can you help? Please?

I'm aware of the following ones:

Fame Monstrose
Oddity
Grigg's Surprise
Calcareum Monstrose
Red Lion Variegated
Weido
Whirl-i-gig

various crested forms:

Boromir Crested
Deep Fire Crested
Fuzzy Wuzzy Crested
Mauna Kea Crested
Legolas Crested
Pacific Dawn Crested


I'm posting a pic of my Red Lion Variegated to help get the interest going. Also a couple of crested forms I'm trying to stabilize and maintain. Both crested forms are new for me this year. The Mauna Kea is very unstable. One week it will look like its trying to morph into a couple of joined offsets and the next its clearly crested. I'll be adding more to this thread over the next few weeks.

One of the things I do when working with my plants is always being on the lookout for the unusual forms. Also, when at a nursery, I'm always looking for semps on sale that might have an unusual form or crest. Hopefully, I can convince the membership here to do the same and contact me if they find anything of interest. I'll update the above list from time to time with additions.

Red Lion Variegated, Deep Fire Crested, Mauna Kea Crested

Wow twit. How long has that Red Lion been showing that color pattern?

Okay, now I have to go out to my beds and check for unusual semp happenings.
Get back to you later today. Hopefully I will have something to post. : )

Lynn, My red Lion came from a trade in 2010 and was an offset last year. I did not notice the colors until looking for them this spring. Only one of the offsets is doing this.

I found nothing unusual.
Except for a fasciated section of my Sedum 'Silver Stone'. I put it in a pot to see how it will do.

Twit,
I also have a variegated 'Red Lion'. I have several offsets. Is it possible that you received your 'Red Lion' in trade from Tabby? If so, she and I may have the same plant source.

As far as finding a source for other unusual semps, are you looking to buy 'Whirly Gig'? Or are you looking specimens from members collections?

Nope, not from me.

And my Red Lion looks normal. But I wouldn't mind a variegated offset once you have plenty.

I'll bring you one on Thursday! I'll give you a ring

So pretty!! I love all the unusual ones!!

I'd love a variegated Red Lion too but will wait till next year as I have plenty of babies to watch after right now.

The leaf shape of both groups of Red Lion don't even look right.
Look at the leaves on these: Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum 'Red Lion')
Wonder if it is maybe a type of virus causing the streaking and maybe different leaf shape?

Very interesting.
Here's a picture of mine back in April - it has normal looking Red Lion leaves compared to those in the database. It's from the same source as Sandi's. I should go and see what it looks like now.

Yep, looks just like Red Lion should. Will be interesting to see if they still look like your above photo Tabby.

Sandi, yours are beautiful and the variegation shows a lot stronger than mine.

Red Lion is known to produce variegation. It's documented on succulents.jp, which is why I checked mine out. Just like Fuzzy Wuzzy is known to throw crested forms as well.

Pickle, mine came from another source a couple of years ago. I'd really like to get one of yours down the road as well. the color changes appear stronger in yours. I'd separate the variegated ones from the normal seeming ones and let the line progress. A stable, nicely variegated semp would be a good addition to the hobby.

Just checked mine - the leaves are not variegated but they have lengthened out somewhat. I grow it in a shady area.
I'll take a picture tomorrow when the lights better.

Erwin Geiger pointed this out to me. http://www.smgsucculents.com/S...

Sandi bought that Rhumba already and has it in her garden.

Sandi is this photo of New Rhumba?

picklepuff said:Twit,
I also have a variegated 'Red Lion'. I have several offsets. Is it possible that you received your 'Red Lion' in trade from Tabby? If so, she and I may have the same plant source.

• Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum 'New Rhumba')
• Uploaded by picklepuff

No. The picture of the 'New Rumba' is in the data base. I had purchased it from SMG before I realized that I had a variegated ' Red Lion'.

Well, how interesting that is. Did it grow off of a normal Red Lion?
I will watch mine, so far I have seen no sign of it producing variegated offsets.

I bought 'Red Lion' last fall at the end of the season. It was so completely cramped in a plastic pot. I thought for sure it would never live. I only spent a dollar, so I thought what the heck! It was so close to getting pitched into the compost bin. If you look at the picture, you will see the normal large rosette in the middle. All of the offsets are variegated.

That is so interesting. I wonder if you would call the variegated offsets New Rhumba? That is what SMG has as a relatively stable sport of Red Lion. It will be interesting to see if they keep producing the variegation.