I think Zulu measures about 7" across right now. We should start a thread for large semps, like we did for the minis!

Euwwe!

You guys must be cheating by fertilizing your semps! (or painting your thumbs, as we say...)

I've got some absolutely huge ones right now. The S. Pacific Blazing Star that Twitcher sent is so big it surprised some people.
I totally blame the old horse manure I mixed in the soil when creating the semp bed. But it was free and I have lots of it. Definitely too much nitrogen.

I don't really like big semps. I like smaller semps in large clumps with lots of babies. Eventually the excess nitrogen will get used up and then I can have normal sized semps in that bed.

Sorry to disappoint you, Tabby, but I don't fertilize mine and they are at 8" as well.

I agree with you about the size issue. Since mine are in containers, what do you do with semps that get that big? I built a wooden box (~10" by 12") for the Pacific Blazing Star last spring (2011) that did not last thru the winter. The sides fell off as the plants overgrew it. I like to tease people by telling them that the plants pushed the sides of the planter off. They are very beautiful during the spring, but this year seem to have sunburned a bit. Very unusual growing season here this year. Nothing seems to look quite like it has in previous years, sizes are different as well. I'll have to transplant these ones at some point, but did not want to disrupt them much as they make a nice display at the moment.

Kate traded these to me several years ago and is responsible for my Pacific Series habit. Thank you Kate!

Lots of mine seem much larger this year than usual too. And I also prefer the smaller, clumpier ones. (Don't think that's a word but ) The big ones just take up too much room.

There are too many semps in this particular bed that have rosettes that are 10 inches in width, including the S. P. Blazing Star.

10 inches! I think it was Lynn who stood amazed at the size of the semps in this bed.

I really need to take pictures.

I have quite a few repeats from other beds in this bed, and they are way bigger in this bed than the others. While not exactly a controlled experiment, it's close enough that I'm going to lay the blame on the manure. Unfortunately the other new bed also has manure in it. Manure is free fill dirt for me.

No manure or other types of fertilizer here. Must just be this Oregon rain, full of nutrients.

Update on Zulu's flower stalk, and the surprising color of it's flowers


Baby Star


Pyrenaicum


Quintessence

Wow, white with a green stripe down the middle of each petal. That is beautiful Chris. That will be a great photo for the database.

Baby Star blooms are so sweet. Look at how dark the color gets at the base of each petal.
Lovely long, narrow petals on Quintessence. Is that a hint of peach in the pink color?
I love the white, green, yellow and cream colored blooms, they add contrast to all the pink ones.

Look at that flower stalk!

Amazing and very beautiful!

Zulu is determined to produce lots and lots of seeds to carry on.

Wonderful photos, Chris.

Flowers of Pyrenaicum and Quintessence are stunning.

Thanks. That could be a hint of peach in Quintessence - it's unusual.

I went back to look at your photos Chris, and just noticed that the stamens on each are even different colors. Zulu's is really different. How interesting.

Here are the only two blooming semps that I have for this year.
S. Bernstein

S. Cobweb Joy

Beautiful, Kim!!!

I see Cobweb Joy has some progeny to carry on!

Oh yes, I have more Cobweb Joy in another area to carry on. Also goes the same for Bernstein.

That's great!

Love those flowers, though!

Great photos Kim.

It never ceases to amaze me how different each flower really is when viewed close up. So pretty!

Lynn, what plant is that on your new avatar? It's very pretty.

Sherri, it is Lone Star. I just love this well behaved semp. It is such an unusual color year round. I love the tan/brown color this time of year. Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum 'Lone Star')
I got it last year from Martha at North Hills Nursery. She has some really awesome semps.