Clearly there are two different plants named Sempervivum 'Beautiful' in cultivation.

Looking at the two and available info that this is a Ed Skrocki hybrid from 1074, I belief the NGA Semp database record is more reliably correct, and the plant shown in Europe on Sempervivumgarten.de represents a mix up.

What is known about this mix up?

Example info:
Sempervivum 'Beautiful'

NGA Sempervivum Database:
Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum 'Beautiful')
Hybridizer: Ed Skrocki 1974

sempervivumgarten.de
http://www.sempervivumgarten.d...
Hybridizer: listed as Mina Colvin

Comments on sempervivumgarten.de: Sempervivum Beautiful is an older breed of which unfortunately two different clones are in circulation. This clone definitely deserves this name! He has a tremendous luminosity! Just great!

NGA Sempervivum database


sempervivumgarten.de

@JungleShadows

Kevin, do you have a written description of 'Beautiful'?

It should be a velvety green semp with a small purple tip. It is one of Mina Colvin's. I have a copy of her list from that era that verifies this description too. It seems that the confusion started on the other side of the Atlantic.

To me it looks a good , more petite version of pittoni.

Kevin

JungleShadows said:It should be a velvety green semp with a small purple tip. It is one of Mina Colvin's. I have a copy of her list from that era that verifies this description too. It seems that the confusion started on the other side of the Atlantic.

To me it looks a good , more petite version of pittoni.
Kevin

Thanks Kevin, I was going to look at my old catalogs this morning too, glad you found the reference. Is the introduction year mentioned? The NGA Sempervivum database has hybridizer info as: Ed Skrocki, 1974, perhaps erroneously, it can be changed to Mina Colvin, and the year introduced if known.

Thank you Kevin and Mark. The correction as to the breeder has been made. The year was correct.

Good job folks!! Meanwhile the small and really hard to grow semp that I bought labelled 'Beautiful' is wrong since it isn't fuzzy - nearly dead and then it comes back for a bit and then nearly dies again - it is liking its current spot so I may just leave it labelled, but with a note that it's a NOID