Are there any cases of intergeneric hybrids with sempervivum? There are a lot of intergeneric sedum hybrids, but I've never seen anything involving sempervivum.

Hi Jodan, welcome to NGA.
Do you work with this type of hybridizing? What would you use in such a cross?
https://www.cotyledonconsultin...

@JungleShadows Kevin can give us more information on this topic. Look forward to watching this conversation flow. : )

To my knowledge none. Before Jovibarba was brought back into the genus there are hybrids between them and semps. Most were odd plants too.

After the DNA studies showed that semps arose out of a group of sedums, crosses from that group to semps might be possible. However, considering the form of those plants I can't imagine the hybrid would be pretty. Curiosity maybe!

Kevin

Which group of sedums did semps arise from?

Thanks for the replies! I'm a complete newbie when it comes to hybridizing. I do know that some sedums have a closer form to sempervivum, like sedum suaveolens, I wonder if those would be good candidates, but I know nothing about the genetics.

Annie,

They arose out of the same line as the reflexums. Was surprised as they don't look "semp like". That's why I think a cross would result in some rather bizarre growth forms and probably not pretty ones! Of course I could be wrong.

Kevin

Oh that is strange!

Jordanphulet said: I do know that some sedums have a closer form to sempervivum, like sedum suaveolens, I wonder if those would be good candidates, but I know nothing about the genetics.

Hmmm, now that might makes for pretty. Kevin, would this be possible?

I'd never say never but unlikely. They have been separated genetically more than 4 million years. Even the heuffs diverge from the other semps 1 million years ago and they make hybrids very rarely.

Kevin

Interesting, there appear to be a lot of sedeveria hybrids. Is echeveria not more distantly related to sedum than is sempervivum?

Lots of factors influence whether hybrids are formed. Basic chromosome homology, number of chromosomes, etc. all influence this. Unfortunately the classical taxonomists got a lot of the relationships wrong. For example, we now know that Aeoniums, which were once thought of being closely related to semps, are not at all.

Sedum is such a diverse genus and it is now clear it's really 5 or 6 different genera with similar morphology. They do seem to be a bit more promiscuous than many other succulents. Rowley has a wonderful book on hybridizing succulents that cover many of these issues.

Kevin

Thanks for all the great information! I'll look up the book by Rowley. Do you know the title of the book?

With embryo rescue anyrhing is possible now days.

The book is "Succulents in Cultivation - Breeding New Cultivars". Very pretty book and with good charts of the various crosses that have been successful in each of the genera. None are noted in the semps except between other semps.

Kevin

Thanks!

Interesting thread
I am picturing a gold Sempervivum with long stolons romping across the landscape like Sedum reflexum Angelina....on no.... that's a nightmare

ricos said:Interesting thread
I am picturing a gold Sempervivum with long stolons romping across the landscape like Sedum reflexum Angelina....on no.... that's a nightmare

I'd take it over Bermuda grass any day.

My laugh for the day. Thank you Jo Ann and Daniel.

Recently a nursery in the UK produced some nice crosses between Sempervivum Green Ice (mother) and Aeonium Ice Warrior (father). To see some pics Google "Semponium".

I have some Sempervivums in a greenhouse that I'm trying to trick into blooming the same time as my outdoor Aeoniums.

I'm curious what other intergeneric crosses are possible between Aeoniums and their close relatives. Maybe Monanthes? I have 3 different ones, hopefully they will also bloom around same time as the Aeoniums.

Hi Epiphyte78,
Here is a thread in the Sempervivum forum where we discussed the semponium.
The thread "xSemponium" in Sempervivum forum
I don't think anyone in this forum has one of these yet, but what great fun it would be to watch it grow throughout a year.
Glad you found your way here and I look forward to seeing how your experiment comes along.
Please keep us posted on your journey.