I don't know what these plants are called but they are some kind of succulent and are quite remarkable. We started several years ago with one tiny 'plantlet' like the small hanging ones you see in this picture, and now they can be found in odd spots all over the garden.
They don't seem to need much to survive and, indeed, flourish. These have been in this flower basket for 5/6 years and receive no care or treatment whatsover - I doubt that there is much if any soil left. Only one plant needs soil for its roots - the rest are nourished from the mother plant. The neighbour who gave us our first tiny plant has one planted in a flowerpot at the top of the steps leading to her front door, and there is now a cascade of plants right down to the bottom of the steps all nourished by the 'mother' plant.
After several years we thought that this was the 'modus operandi' of this species and then, a few weeks ago, this particular family group began to grow this rather spectacular flower stem which is about 50cms high. At first there were only a few flowerlets at the tip but gradually there are more and more descending down the stem.
I hope you enjoy the picture as much as we enjoy the plants.
These are gorgeous! We call them "hens and chicks" here. This is a beautiful variety. My mother's have just set on a stem like that and it's the first we've ever seen as it is unusual. Can't wait to see if her's flowers.
Wow I love these succulents! What a beautiful tower.
We also call them hens and chicks, I posted my flower from the succulent on July 19th I wonder if it is the same.
Fav
@radiogirl The flowers certainly look to be the same: I took some close-ups of the flowers but thought this flower-stem was too dramatic to be ignored.
Your stunning plant is a Sempervivum ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sempervivum)
We are paired in the get pushed challenge this week and my challenge to you is to capture something that has either a shadow or a reflection as it's main subject. I hope you are happy with my challenge.
I just went to the link and I have discovered it is related to this plant of mine http://365project.org/annied/365/2013-06-29 I am going to see if I can get some of your variety :)
We also call them hens and chicks, I posted my flower from the succulent on July 19th I wonder if it is the same.
Fav
I've seen those plants before, we also call them hen & chicks but I didn't know they bloomed.
Ian
We are paired in the get pushed challenge this week and my challenge to you is to capture something that has either a shadow or a reflection as it's main subject. I hope you are happy with my challenge.