Here is a very interesting, hardy succulents that grows well among our sempervivum and low growing sedum.
Orostachys furusei and Orostachys fimbriata

Here is a great link for photos of Orostachys. http://www.google.com/images?h...

My Orostachys eburnifolia has offsets, and so does the Orostachys spinosa

Any suggestions on how to get them through the winter and spring are appreciated.

They look great. I can't wait for spring.

I'll check into the other thing and see if there is anything that can be done.

[Tevherd gave permission and posted pics on Cubits - see below]

Now I just need to keep the alive through winter and spring. Keep your fingers crossed.

Lynn, When I am in doubt, I do the "divide and conquer" approach. Can you put some chicks in a bright window over winter if you are concerned about hardiness or other conditions. If they don't survive your mild winters, in any case, I would not be able to grow them.

Winter hardiness should not be a problem, I was more worried about growing conditions of soil and light. I found this info. http://books.google.com/books?...
http://www.botanicgardensblog....
http://books.google.com/books?...
http://books.google.com/books?...
I will do more research later, have to go make breakfast. : )

The Oros I have looked into are rated Zone 5 or 6. Here, the Zone 6 ones might have some issues.

I am going to see if any of the offsets have started rooting yet, if so, I am going to detach some and pot them up and put them on the covered deck. That way I can give them a little water during the winter without them getting waterlogged.
I just found out that many of the tender succulents will over winter here if put under the deck roof where they will stay on the dry side. It is to much rain with the freezing cold that damages them. Another experiment in the works.

I don't think you need to worry about cold hardiness, but as you say, the winter wet is a challenge. My poor little Orostachys spinosus is looking very sad - how on earth did you get yours to have so many chicks, Lynn? Wow!

Also this link has pics of the blooming stalk - Dunces Cap is the common name, and you can see why!
http://www.ovrghs.ca/articles/...

Another link I just found right here on cubits!

http://cubits.org/cactussuccul...

Jacki it came that way, with the chicks. Now I just have to make them all happy. It is very dry here again, very dry. We are suppose to get rain Friday. If not I will give them all a little bit of water.
Very cool links Jacki. Loved the photos on the second link.

Here are two more Orostachys I have. That is it, four total. I find these so fascinating.
Orostachys furusei and Orostachys fimbriata

Twit, could you re-post that link to the photos on DG. I lost the link when I was trying to start a new thread for Orostachys. I'm sorry.

Tevherd/Sharon has actually posted the pics on the Succulents Cubit. I'll look up the link to them and post it here shortly. You will need to scroll to the end of the thread.

While we semp freaks don't usually want our plants to flower, the outstanding flower stalks of the Oros make flowering worthwhile.

http://cubits.org/cactussuccul...

I'm posting Tevherd's pics here. She gave permission for us to have a look at them. I think these are great pictures of Oros's flowers. Be sure to look at them closeup.

-t
Orostachys iwarenge flower by Tevherd







(fixed this for Lynn!)

They are unbelievably beautiful twit.
Did you re-size them? They don't get larger when clicked on.

I copied them from the Succulents Forum/Cubit, but as I recall, I copied the thumbnail, not the expanded picture - will try again.

[I was able to replace the thumbnails with full sized pictures, so all should be well now]

That's the same link that I posted above, Twit, so if they won't re-size just go to the link to that post.

Oh my, I am drooling all over my keyboard now. Those are amazing. I am so torn now, I want blooms, but not until I have lots of offsets to take the place of the spent rosette.
Can I have it both ways.

How long have you had them Jacki? Have they produced offsets for you? What conditions do you grow them in?