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Sempervivum arachnoideum

Common name:	Cobweb Houseleek	Family:	Crassulaceae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Europe.
Habitat:	Amongst rocks and stones in the cooler regions of Europe, usually on siliceous soils[7].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	arachnoideum = like a spiders web sempervivum = always alive
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Rosales. Stonecrop family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen perennial growing to 0.1m by 0.15m . It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower in July, and the seeds ripen in August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soil. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds, In Walls, In South Wall, In East Wall, In West Wall.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Emollient Haemostatic Odontalgic Ophthalmic Sedative Skin.

The leaves are emollient, haemostatic, ophthalmic and sedative[7]. The crushed plant, or its juice, is applied externally to boils, wounds etc and is also used to stop nose bleeds[7]. The slightly warmed juice has been used to relieve ear inflammations and toothaches can be relieved by chewing on the leaves[7]. When macerated and infused in vinegar, the plant can be used to get rid of warts and corns[7]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and are best used when fresh since they are difficult to dry properly[7].
The leaf pulp is used to make a cooling face mask for reddened or sunburnt skin[7].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Prefers a well-drained gritty soil in full sun[200]. Succeeds in any sandy soil, doing well in very little soil in rock crevices, walls, paths etc so long as there is sufficient humus[1, 200]. Prefers growing on acid rocks, though it also succeeds on calcareous ones[219]. Established plants are drought tolerant[200]. Strongly dislikes winter wet[200]. Plants are not very tolerant of weed competition[K].
Polymorphic, this species is split into a number of sub-species by some botanists[200].
Individual rosettes die after flowering, but produce a number of offsets that continue to grow[188].
Hybridizes with a number of other members of this genus[200].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in early spring in a cold frame. It usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 10° c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer if they have made sufficient growth, otherwise grow them on for a further year in pots before planting them out[K].
Division of offsets in spring or early summer. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer. Plants can also be divided in September but these divisions should be overwintered in a greenhouse.
Stem cuttings.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Crassulaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[219] Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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