Sempervivum tectorum
Ecology
A long-lived, evergreen perennial, planted and more or less naturalised on tiled and thatched roofs, old walls, gate pillars and porches, and in churchyards. It is also occasionally found on stabilised sand dunes. Lowland.
Status
Trends
S. tectorum has been grown in gardens since at least 1200 (Harvey, 1981), and was often planted on porches and roofs as a supposed protection against fire, lightning and thunderbolts. It was known in the wild by 1629. Some county floras mention a marked decline since the 19th century, especially where old cottages and walls have been pulled down and thatch has been replaced by slate.
World Distribution
Native of the mountains of C. & S. Europe.
There are no images in this gallery.
Broad Habitats
Light (Ellenberg): 8
Moisture (Ellenberg): 2
Reaction (Ellenberg): 4
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 1
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 3.5
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 15.3
Annual Precipitation (mm): 871
Height (cm): 40
Perennation - primary
Life Form - primary
Woodiness
Clonality - primary
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 500
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 42
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 2
Weighted Changed Factor: 43
Weighted Change Factor Confidence (90%)
JNCC Designations
Atlas text references
.
1999. Flora of Cornwall.
.
1955. The Englishman's Flora.
Jalas & Suominen (1999)
.
1984. Flora of Jersey.
Comment on Life Form