Why were hen-and-chicks grown on the roof?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
January 7, 2002
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Houseleeks or hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum tectorum Linnaeus) are native to central and southern Europe and the islands of the Mediterranean. Houseleeks were considered sacred to Jupiter in Roman mythology and Thor in Teutonic. In both mythologies, it is said the god's beard can be seen in the flowers. Both gods were associated with thunderbolts so houseleeks planted on the roof protected the structure against lightning and fire.
Houseleeks were planted by fixing the off-shoots in gaps between thatching, lumber, or tiles on the roof. By the Middle Ages, houseleeks were said to protect the home from storms, guard against sorcery, and ensure the prosperity of the inhabitants. If one wanted to cause disaster to a neighbor, a stranger was sent to pluck a houseleek off their roof. (It has been reported that houseleeks may help to preserve thatched roofs.)
The first written text of the medicinal use of houseleeks comes from Dioscorides in the first century. He recommended the leaves crushed and mixed with wine to rid intestinal parasites. The bruised leaves were used to treat burns and scalds. Split leaves were placed over corns, calluses, warts, ringworm (a fungus) and insect stings. The juice of houseleeks was used to treat shingles (localized infection of the chickenpox virus), itching and burning of the eyes, and earaches.
The botanical name Sempervivum means 'always life' for it was noted that even plants sitting on shelves in herbalist shops will grow given light and some moisture. Tectorum means 'of the roofs' in reference to where the plants were cultivated.
The Garden Helper has a photograph of Sempervivum in bloom.
Click here to view Jupiter's or Thor's beard
(you will need a good imagination)
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~6~~7~~8~~9~~10~~
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Hens and Chicks, Silver
Springhill Nursery®
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Very facinating grower. Small rosettes of succulent leaves form and spread by offsets from the base of an old rosette. They keep multiplying until you have a spot in your landscape or decorative pot spilling over with these great evergreen rosettes.
Easy to use in a rock garden, rock wall or decorative container. It is said a rosette will die after it blooms, but it isn't very noticable because new rosettes are already forming around it.
Sempervivum tectorum
This Item Ships In The Spring
Click here - Save $20 on $50 order.
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Sempervivum means 'live forever' and in Central Europe it was a superstition that if a 'Houseleek' was planted on ones roof, the house was protected from lightening or fire, hence the common name 'Roof houseleek' or 'Common houseleek'.
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Hens and Chicks, Red
Springhill Nursery®
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Very facinating grower. Small rosettes of succulent leaves form and spread by offsets from the base of an old rosette. They keep multiplying until you have a spot in your landscape or decorative pot spilling over with these great evergreen rosettes.
Easy to use in a rock garden, rock wall or decorative container. It is said a rosette will die after it blooms, but it isn't very noticable because new rosettes are already forming around it.
Sempervivum tectorum
This Item Ships In The Spring
Click here - Save $20 on $50 order.
|
|
Sempervivum means 'live forever' and in Central Europe it was a superstition that if a 'Houseleek' was planted on ones roof, the house was protected from lightening or fire, hence the common name 'Roof houseleek' or 'Common houseleek'.
|
Hens and Chicks, Green
Springhill Nursery®
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|
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Very facinating grower. Small rosettes of succulent leaves form and spread by offsets from the base of an old rosette. They keep multiplying until you have a spot in your landscape or decorative pot spilling over with these great evergreen rosettes.
Easy to use in a rock garden, rock wall or decorative container. It is said a rosette will die after it blooms, but it isn't very noticable because new rosettes are already forming around it.
Sempervivum tectorum
This Item Ships In The Spring
Click here - Save $20 on $50 order.
|
|
Sempervivum means 'live forever' and in Central Europe it was a superstition that if a 'Houseleek' was planted on ones roof, the house was protected from lightening or fire, hence the common name 'Roof houseleek' or 'Common houseleek'.
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