I'm starting this topic to record semps that clearly show Fibonacci leaf spiral patterns; I'm interested in doing breeding work specifically for this feature. Sempervivum arachnoideum and its hybrids are well known for this geometric pattern, but many other semps show the pattern.

For the Fibonacci pattern of intersecting clockwise and counterclockwise leaves to be well expressed, it usually happens in cultivars in high leaf build. Those cultivars that make dense foliage "eyes" in mid to late summer are also likely to be ones that show the pattern.

I'm making a list of semps with well expressed Fibonacci, but thought it would help to create a photographic digest.

Green Wheel is strong with Fibonacci, several views:



'Honigmond', not as colorful now in mid August, but the pattern is definitely there:


'Jungle Fires' has high leaf build and shows the pattern:


'Luftspring' is a small to medium size semp, has tight and trim rosettes with good leaf build:


'Maigret' is very recent to my collection, but already I can see good expression of Fibonacci


'Montage' is strong with the pattern. I find this to be a very unique cultivar, with a number of unusual characteristics.


Among my favorite semps is 'Blush', spring color is glorious, it has the pattern:


Not a mature rosette yet (new to my collection), but I believe 'Boromir' will express the pattern more clearly when older.


'Pax' is a small semp but crams in lots of tiny tight leaves to express the pattern. I really like this semp. The dark tips help express the pattern.


Another small semp packed with small leaves is 'Terracotta Baby', I'm very partial to this semp, has great attributes.


Semp x nixonii 'Arjan', newly added to NGA Sempervivum Database, is small and very tight, really liking this one and it's geometric precision, the dark leaf tips help the expression.


This one was a complete surprise to me, the open spring rosettes of 'Poco Loco' tighten up in summer with lots of packed leaves, there's the pattern!

One of my seedlings reminded me of your interest in the Fibonacci form...

It is a cool look

Great examples of that pattern!

Mark I have been looking through mine and I'm having trouble recognizing that pattern.

I notice the pattern right away - they are favorites of mine!

valleylynn said:Mark I have been looking through mine and I'm having trouble recognizing that pattern.

Lynn, hopefully this will help, I found this photo online when searching Fibonacci pattern, Sempervivum arachnoideum is often used to demonstrate the pattern, particularly look at the rosette on the left, looks like a fan spinning, or an satellite view of a rotating hurricane. In this semp the tight leaves align themselves precisely such that one can see the spiralling arc pattern.


Many cacti and succulents strongly show the pattern, most famous are Aloe species, here's an overhead view of Aloe polyphylla.


Back to semps, here's a NOID I bought at a nursery last year, it's an arachnoideum, thus an "ArachNOID"
It looks like a small hurricane with fuzzy peripheral storms, the Fib pattern is clear here.

GeologicalForms said:One of my seedlings reminded me of your interest in the Fibonacci form...

It is a cool look

Yes Sol, I can see the start of Fibonacci leaf arcs, nice color and fuzziness, and already a chick. I'd like to see how this develops and matures.

Thanks Mark,
The picture barely does it justice, it's much brighter, there are a few chicks and the Fibonacci sequence is far more visible from directly overhead. One of my favorites so far, we'll be sure to keep you posted on it's progress.
-Sol

Great photos Mark. I can definitely see it in the first photo, rosette on the left.
The other two photos are very easy to see it also.

When I placed a recent MCG order, purpose was to add a couple of semps with good Fibonacci leaf spiraling pattern (based on the mature rosette photos shown on MCG website). And of course to make it worthwhile to order those two, I added a dozen more, LOL.

Sempervivum 'Lively Bug', the pattern can be seen even though not a mature rosette.


Sempervivum 'Duke of Windsor', mature rosettes strongly show the pattern, but in this younger rosette it is more mildly in evidence.

Sempervivum pittonii is way-strong with Fibonacci

Love this species in general, a tight-growing one with dense leaf build and ciliated leaves.


An oblique view showing the tight rosettes, and with some red highlighting in the outer leaves.


Two close-up views of a singular rosette, look at that incurved swirling leaf pattern, unmistakable.


Beautiful leaf-build symmetry.

Beautiful, Mark. I had to add that one to my list!

plantmanager said:Beautiful, Mark. I had to add that one to my list!

I bought mine from MCG this year (2019). I used to grow it years ago, but needed the true plant again after 2.5 decades.

PO has it to, it's a cute little fuzzy one.

I love that one also Mark. I got mine years ago from Perennial Obsessions. This year the winter caused it to stress out, but it is still hanging on.

When I placed recent MCG semp orders, I was looking for some that had obvious Fibonacci leaf spiraling; I forgot that I ordered calcareum 'Benz', just look at this photo from the Semp database taken by Lynn, the spiral pattern is amazing!

That is a beauty Mark. Erwin Geiger so graciously let me us his photo for our database. I wish I had S. calcareum 'Benz'. It is such a beautiful calcareum. It sure does have Fibonacci leaf spiraling. Even I can see it.

I have to restrain myself from ordering more - need to take care of all my new ones first and get them more established. Really hard not to order more though.

Mark,

calcareum 'Extra' is even more so. The most regular pattern I have ever seen on a semp. Maybe "Fibonacci King" would be a better name!

Kevin

JungleShadows said:Mark,

calcareum 'Extra' is even more so. The most regular pattern I have ever seen on a semp. Maybe "Fibonacci King" would be a better name!

Kevin

I received calcareum 'Extra' last summer (thanks Tim!), however my calcareums are the only semps that didn't fair well last winter; they were under an open-air rain roof, I think they actually got too dry and desiccated. Checked out 'Extra' today, it's on the road to recovery, a misshapen partial half rosette came back to life, will repot it soon into fresh soil mix and give it some TLC. Lynn's and Tim's photos in the Semp database show amazing plants. Yes, "Fibonacci King' would have been a better name, the given name of 'Extra' strikes me as odd and non-poetic.