Everlasting plant (Sempervivum)

Curiosities of the immortelle

Always alive is the name given to a plant that remains practically as new throughout its life. It is capable of maintaining the smoothness and brilliance of the leaves at all times. Its scientific name is Sempervivum. They have a great capacity to survive against adverse conditions or that hinder their development.

Discover all the characteristics of the immortelle and how you should take care of it so that it is always in its best condition. Do you want to learn more?

Varieties and generalities

Immortelle varieties

The immortelle belongs to the genus of 30 varieties of the Crassulaceae family. All the varieties of this family have one aspect in common. And it is that they are capable of growing in the form of a rosette.

The main use of the immortelle is ornamental. Its flowers can be of various shades (similar to roses) and offer an elegant color to the garden or public place. When several different species are grown with different colors, a colorful and multi-colored picture can be observed.

Among the species that we find, the following stand out: Sempervivum tectorum, the most common of all; sempervivum alpinum, native to the Alps; and Sempervivum montanum, typical of Montaña. The Sempervivum arachnoideum, Sempervivum wulfenii, the Sempervivum grandiflorum and Sempervivum calcareum.

Key features

Evergreen plant

This plant is continually maintaining its lustrous green color. Maintains smoothness and lighting quite well. Its leaves are deep green, and some species have shades of color at the tips. There are also red, yellow or purple ones.

The stem is green in color and ends in flowers of pink, reddish, white and yellow tones. These flowers can only be seen in the summer season. They usually have a starry shape and the warmest time of year is when the flowers are most showy. It manages to reach 30 cm in height.

Usually the evergreen plant keeps growing for several years before blooming for the first time. Without a doubt, it is quite a beautiful shrub. It is used for decorative purposes worldwide. You can find it both in vases and in soil and pots. The varieties are more valued to cover and decorate the sunniest and driest areas.

Habitat and area of ​​distribution

Features

This plant is native to Spain. It began to expand from the Canary Islands. It can be seen flourishing in the mountain ranges of the peninsula. It is not only found in Spain, but they extend through the Alps, the Carpathians, the Balkans, Turkey, the mountains of Armenia and the Caucasus.

They have the ability to store water in their fleshy-type leaves. This action makes it easier for you to survive in the driest and rocky areas. Thanks to its great ability to adapt to the harshest environments, this plant thrives in the harshest environments. When you have it at home, it does not require much care or space.

As for their multiplication, they have a great capacity to spread and reproduce quickly.

Reproduction and care

Cultivation of the immortelle

Although it does not take much care, it is better to give it a review to always keep them in their best condition. When the circumstances are good the immortelle spreads rapidly by means of bulbs. Its flowers are initially hermaphroditic. Later, the stamens bend away from the carpels in the center of the flower, so self-fertilization is not easy.

To reproduce them it is better by seeds. If the suckers are separated, the better. You can grow it both in a pot, as in vases or even in direct soil. If it needs to be transplanted, it is convenient to wait for the spring time where the temperatures are more pleasant for them.

Regarding your care, it is not a very demanding plant, but it is better to have them in a limestone soil and with good drainage. Waterlogging can kill them. It does not require special fertilizer, but it is convenient to move the land every two years. Watering should be moderate and they do not tend to be attacked by pests or diseases.

If you choose to have it in a pot, it is recommended that you use a porous substrate, since although it could live without problems in black peat alone, it would be necessary to control the waterings a lot, since it is sensitive to root rot. Thus, a good mix would be the following: 50% black peat + 30% perlite + 20% river sand.

The evergreen plant should in principle always be placed in full sun, but if you live in an area where the climate is extremely hot (above 30 degrees continuously) it is preferable that you put them in the shade for a few hours a day.

Benefits and medicinal properties

Medicinal properties

As if that were not enough, this plant also has medicinal characteristics and multiple benefits. It is used to treat inflammatory conditions that are related to pharyngitis, tracheitis, otitis and candidiasis. To treat some conditions, it is necessary to make a juice with the leaves. This juice is used to treat ulcers, pimples and some burns. It can also relieve the symptoms and itchiness of mosquito and other insect bites.

The active principles are what give this medicinal plant its medicinal properties. These active ingredients are tannins, resins, flavonoids, organic acids (malic, formic and isocitric), alkaloids and mucilages.

Modern pharmacological and chemical analyzes, made especially with the alpine species Sempervivum tectorum, have detected chemical elements with antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective properties, as well as antioxidants, antihyperlipidemic and free radical killers.

For all this, the immortelle has become a beautiful, durable plant, protective of homes and also of health.

Curiosities of the immortelle

In ancient times it was thought that the immortelle had been created by Zeus or Jupiter. The purpose of this plant was to protect homes and people against fire, lightning and spirits. This plant was known as Jupiter's or Thor's beards.

This belief spread to Europe in the time of Charlemagne. To help protect homes, it was grown on the roofs of homes to protect them from spells and lightning. Also, it was thought to bring goodness into the home.

As can be seen, this plant is one of the most complete.


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