I was so fortunate to win 6 plants from Perennial Obsessions in the October NARR. Now the problem is HOW DO I CHOOSE JUST SIX????????

I just took a quick look and my list is already 30+ plants long!
HELP

I live in Fresno County, California zone 9b. I love semps that chick early, often and heavily. Not asking for much, am I?

Any suggestions?

Congrats Tamara!! You will want to plant them in bright, dappled shade rather than full sun
Also I can't remember but I think there is a thread on the forum called "Growing semps in Texas" and within that thread there are suggestions of plants that do ok in hot zones, I can't remember what they are
Have fun with them!

You could post your 30 cultivar names here and us experts ( ) could make some suggestions as to which ones are "essential".

Monetwwqi said:
I love semps that chick early, often and heavily. Not asking for much, am I?

tcstoehr said:You could post your 30 cultivar names here and us experts ( ) could make some suggestions as to which ones are "essential".

oooo! That is a GREAT idea!

Another thing to consider, it is likely that your semps won't have the same vibrant colors because of lack of cold temperatures, so choosing ones with texture, fuzziness or interest other than just color might be good!!

Tamara, we would love to see your list.
What are your winter time low temps like? Frost/freezing? Any snow? What is your soil like, or are you container growing them?
So many questions.
Can't wait to see your list.

I only remember it snowing a couple times.The heaviest snow was when I was in the 7th grade. That was a LONG - LONG time ago. It was great playing in the snow at school but most of the snow was gone by the time we got home from school.

Winter high temps here average ≈ 56º , lows average ≈38º. On occasion it will get down to ≈30º or a bit lower.

I'll be planting in containers on my front porch which faces west.

I'm making a list and will post it soon. Problem is I keep saying 'Ooh! I want that and that and that...........'

I'd keep the selections toward tectorum types as montanums (velvets) want colder temperatures; montanums, a the name suggests, are from HIGH in the mountains. That ain't Fresno! Even here in Oregon they are a bit picky.

As I remember the heat in Fresno in the summer is awful. West exposure will kill them for sure. They can't take that sun and heat combo.

In MS I grew them in SHADE. Keep them moist in the summer but water only early in the day or after sunset.

Good luck!

Kevin

Here is my wish list. I've gone through all their plants at least 3 - 4 times. I've pared my list down quite a bit but still have a list of 33 plants.

OROSTACHYS IWARENGE SSP. BOEHMERI

SEMPERVIVUMS --

Ashes of Roses
Benedictine
Blue Boy
Blush
Bunny Girl
Corsair
Drachenblut
Ginnie's Delight
Goldmarie
Green Gables

Legolas
Lively Bug
Mike
Lively Bug
Niphetos
Oley
Pacific Plum Fuzzy
Pacific Zoftic
Pink Delight
Rosa Madchen' (Pink Girl)
Safari

Sassy Frass
Silver Angel
Silver Baby
Silver Cup
Silver Thaw
Solange
Spherette
Zorba
arachnoideum 'Mona Lisa
arachnoideum x pittonii

dolomiticum x montanum
Sempervivum x vilosum

HELP!

@JungleShadows

Kevin, I'm new to semps. I picked up a few small offsets off the floor at Lowe's and HD and so far they are doing fine. I've had them since about late July. I have a white roll-down shade on my porch so my plants don't get direct sun until late afternoon. There is also a large rose bush in front of the porch, or at least half of it. This also provides protection from the heat. Even then the light is kind of filtered.

My ecchiveria seem to love it.

April 23.2018 June 5,2018

This was my porch in April before I put up a 5 shelf rack.


These are the semps I picked up (I have a few more but no photos yet).


P.S. I'm very grateful to have won the plants but I was hoping to get the Mountain Crest GC so I could also get your book.

Monetwwqi said: I picked up a few small offsets off the floor at Lowe's and HD and so far they are doing fine. I've had them since about late July.
These are the semps I picked up (I have a few more but no photos yet).
P.S. I'm very grateful to have won the plants but I was hoping to get the Mountain Crest GC so I could also get your book.

You can also get his book from Amazon, or perhaps the library - it's a good book. Lowes seems to be a good place to pick up some bits and pieces off the floor. I also got a bunch off the sidewalk in front of my grocery store when they had their succulent sale. I rescued several from getting trampled on. It is my first venture into trying to root leaves, and so far I am doing pretty good - will try to take some photos to also share with you - but mine look pretty much like yours. I am rather new to semps also - I had only 1 kind of semp, that has been in my family for 100 years - I call it a 'century semp'. Big T also has his own family century semp - semps with a history! If you want any of mine (tectorum), tree mail me your address and I will send you a few! Happy to spread the love! But I am new at all these new varieties. Have already bought several new ones though - this forum has been a great help! So I will be watching closely as all our semp experts go through your list and give their recommendations!

Tamara,

Definitely keep your plants with the shade cover down. Remember these are ALPINE plants. Think cool thoughts! The tender succulents should be fine.

On your choices you might want to pick a roller type as they are very hardy and prolific.

Kevin

Monetwwqi said:Here is my wish list. I've gone through all their plants at least 3 - 4 times. I've pared my list down quite a bit but still have a list of 33 plants.

OROSTACHYS IWARENGE SSP. BOEHMERI

SEMPERVIVUMS --

Ashes of Roses
Benedictine
Blue Boy
etc etc etc

Of those, in my personal experience, only 'Goldmarie' is an essential "must have". I don't have nearly any of your other picks so I will reserve judgement.

Tamara glad you started this thread - helps people to know what they have...On your list I only know that 'Blue Boy' 'Drackenblut' and 'Legolas' are tectorum types.
The 'roller' types that Jungleshadows is referencing are globiferum types (they are smaller and cute - in my opinion because they run away from their momma little balls that break off from the parent and easily escape )
I think your arach 'Mona Lisa' could do well too - and it is really pretty in spring, your temps are actually colder than I thought, so you might get some coloration...I've only had this one a year, and it is one that you see 'over there' and wonder "ooh wait what is that one?"
If you do use your local library I'd request them to order Kevin's book, there is so much info in it!

My library ordered Kevin's book for me, through their Interlibrary loan program. The sent the book all the way to Ohio from Kansas! I expect my library will end up buying the book.

My library put in a request for purchase.

Great! My library will be getting it too. That will help to spread the word about Sempervivums!

Way to go all of you. I never thought about asking the library to order it.

Hooray ya'll! Now I need to order it from my library (even though I own a copy) Lynn me too, didn't think of doing this but will now!