While walking a friend’s dog in the Swansea neighbourhood (that’s the residential area south of Bloor between Runnymede and Jane), the Ginger Ninja kept seeing these plants near the edges of many people’s lawns. She wanted to know what they were. Any gardeners or botanists out there care to help?
While the dog we were walking — Rufus — is an especially good and friendly dog, he was of no help whatever in identifying the plant:
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When I was a kid , they were called “hen and chicks.” I think there’s one in my yard, too.
We saw plants very much like that at this botanical garden for cacti and succulents that we went to in Mexico a few years ago. Here’s a web page with a number of similar varieties: http://growpro-inc.netfirms.com/mountaincrest/nfoscomm/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=425
Was it whispering, “Feed me” ?
It looks like a Hens and Chicks.
http://www.canadiangardening.com/plants/hens_chicks.shtml
They’re a nice decorative plant, and don’t require a lot of fussing.
I’m probably wrong, but it looks like some kind of artichoke…
They’re Hens and Chicks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hens_and_chicks
Hens and Chicks?
Some variety of Sempervivum. Common name is usually Hens and Chicks (from the little rosettes branching off the main one). Also called Houseleek because it used to be grown on roofs.
Not sure of the botanical name, but it’s commonly referred to as Hens and Chicks.
They are called “Hens and Chickens“. A great rock garden plant, the smaller sections can be broken off and transplanted quite easily. They also spread like mad!
My mom had them in her yard in Utah… I think the common name for them is “Hen and Chicks.”
Hey Joey, those are Hens and chicks. We have a bunch of them too! I always associate them with rock gardens.
It’s an Echeveria elegans, commonly called “Hens and Chicks” or “Hens and Chickens.” My grandmother calls them “Hens and Roosters,” but she’s very fond of roosters.
Thanks, everybody, from me and the Ginger Ninja!
@Barry Koslow: The plant wasn’t saying “Feed me!” but the dog certainly was.
The Emperor Charlemagne made his subjects grow houseleeks on their roofs to ward off lightning and protect the inhabitants from withcraft.
The custom gave houseleeks another, more evocative name - ‘welcome-home-husband-however-drunk-you-be’- but, as one gardener noted: “it is not necessary to be an inebriated cottage, to find this an agreeable little plant”.
ps: They produce beautiful flowers too.
My wife thinks it might be an agave. See pictures at end of:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave