I picked this up at a local nursery a few weeks ago. It was being greenhouse grown. I repotted up a size and into better soil and gritified it. I gradually brought it out to receive full morning sun, until about midday. It told me this morning it's much happier living with me.

Whole plant


Close up of the hen


Close up of chick.

You will love this one BigT. It is a sturdy semp and can get quite large. Also has some very nice color changes during the different seasons.
Yours is looking very happy indeed.

I have Semp 'Black', and like it too, but I wonder about the name because the hybridizer is unknown, could it be one of those semps living in a nursery for which the name was lost (a NoID) and a new name given?

Revisiting an earlier post of mine, I showed side-by-side photos of two semp varieties from Youngs, only about a month after receiving gthem mail-order, 'Black' on the left, and the "Santino-Mis-ID" on the right, pretty much looking identical in these two photos taken on June 10, 2018 (date for coloring based on time of year). The issue of Young's mis-ID 'Santino' has been kicked around several times, but I don't think there was comment to that mis-ID 'Santino' looking very much like 'Black' as sent out by Youngs.


Another semp mystery, and who doesn't love a good mystery?

Black was traced back to Little Prince Nursery in Oregon. It is a very large semp and does not look anything like the 'Santino' that is being sold in the U.S. (and is incorrect)

Mark, your 'Santino' is incorrect. Not sure about your 'Black', time will tell with size and color changes. Here is where you can discuss 'Santino'.
The thread "Sempervivum 'Santino'" in Sempervivum forum

We may have to nick name @valleylynn "Miss Marples" for her sleuthing.

I used to watch that program.
Wish I had some of her abilities.

Perfectly aware my "Santino" from Young's is a mis-ID. Thanks for source regarding where 'Black' came from.

Please reference my photos showing Young's 'Black' on the left, Young's mis-ID'd "Santino" on right, nearly identical resemblance don't you think? Curious to know if 'Black' as sold by Young's is considered accurate.

Also curious to know, if those who have some influence or sway with Young's (Kevin?), has Young's folks been talked to about the mis-ID Santino?

Mark, I can't say if they are the same plant, they do look similar. But 'Black' will get large, the faux 'Santino' stays much smaller and the seasonal colors are different from 'Black'.

Thanks Lynn, I'll keep watching them through the seasons, particularly Black, to compare with photos in the Semp DB. The true 'Santino' looks terrific, too bad it's not available.

I agree Mark, I used to have the faux 'Santino' and loved it. I'm trying to remember back to another semp that it looked exactly like. Same size and color changes. No mistaking the faux 'Santino' for 'Black'.

valleylynn said:I agree Mark, I used to have the faux 'Santino' and loved it. I'm trying to remember back to another semp that it looked exactly like. Same size and color changes. No mistaking the faux 'Santino' for 'Black'.

Your last statement makes me wonder if there was a mix-up with the plants Young's sent me, because in my example the faux Santino looks so much like Young's 'Black', I was suspicious about this shortly after getting the order that these two were looking so similar. Well, moving on to other things to do, on a rare day here this year with no rain in sight for at least 1 day, lol.

Have a 'Happy no rain day' Mark.

valleylynn said:Have a 'Happy no rain day' Mark.

Thank you Lynn. As it turns out they've changed the forecast, we'll get 3 straight days of HOT sun and no rain, thunderstorms and rain returns on Wednesday. The day time temps have been so hot, that they have become 2-beer afternoons versus a 1-beer day.

So sorry Mark.

We are headed back into the 90's also, no rain in the forecast.