Rosularia rechingeri

Rosularia is a rosette forming member of the succulent family Crassulaceae. They closely resemble other rosette forming Crassulaceae such as Sempervivum and Echeveria, although they are more closely related to the genus Sedum and Kalanchoe.
Native to Turkey and areas of the Himalayan Mountains, they are commonly referred to as the Turkish Stonecrop. These alpine succulents form small rosettes of flat leaves that range in colour from glaucous green to lovely dusky rose. The leaves are brighter in summer when natural light is stronger.

What sets Rosularia apart from Sempervivum are the flowers, which bloom in midsummer. While flowers of Sempervivum and many other related succulents are star shaped, Rosularia flowers are small, tube or funnel shaped atop tall stems that grow up from the centre of the rosette. These blooms can be white, yellow, pink or purple and may even be variegated, depending on variety. After Sempervivum blooms, its rosette dies. After Rosularia blooms, its rosette continues to live and can produce more flowers. To deadhead spent blooms, simply cut the flower stems back to the rosette.

Rosularia rechingeri distinguishes itself in spring time when the small green clusters change to a vibrant rich reddish tone. Although the plants have very attractive flowers in the summer, they are grown mainly for their colourful architectural foliage. These very decorative plants are indispensable for the rock garden, raised bed, scree, dry wall or trough.
Originally from Western Asia, Iraq and Turkey, this species can be grown as a houseplant or can be grown outdoors. These rare yet hardy succulents can withstand temperatures down to minus 23°C (-10°F) yet are still hard-to-find in cultivation, they are seldom seen other than in specialist nurseries or rock garden collections.

Sowing: Sow indoors all year, or outdoors in February to July
Fill small pots or trays with a light and well-aerated seed compost. Tap the container to settle the compost, but do not firm the mixture down. Stand the pots in water, moisten thoroughly and drain. Seeds should be scattered very lightly over the surface.
If possible, place in a propagator otherwise, secure a polythene bag around the pot or cover the container with glass or and place in a warm shaded place. Many people make use of a warm place such as the airing cupboard, or near the kitchen boiler. Care should be taken to prevent the pots drying out from below. Some people stand the containers on a tray of damp sand, so that they do not dry out.
The majority of seeds germinate best at temperatures of 18 to 20°C (65 to 70°F). Most seedlings may appear within 15 to 30 days others may take a little longer. Stratification after sowing by chilling in the fridge at 4°C (39°F) for a few weeks, or outdoors during the winter, will enhance germination.

Germination:
Be careful to keep the top of the compost damp but not wet. As soon as the first seeds have germinated, remove the plastic or raise the lid slightly to permit some circulation of air. From now on, the tiny seedlings need to be in a good light, but must be protected from direct sun. Shading from all but winter sun is desirable for the first few months.
The first sign of germination is the appearance of a pair of tiny succulent seed leaves (cotyledons) and this is soon followed by the development of the new rosette. Almost certainly there will be far too many seedlings germinating to grow them all but after a few months the most promising ones can be transplanted and grown on.
Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3in) pots. Grow on in a cold frame or cold greenhouse and plant out the following spring 15cm (6in) apart in full sun. For a green roof or groundcover effect, space plants closer together.

Soil requirements:
Plants will grow in almost any type of soil provided that it is well drained and in a sunny position. In a wet environment, make sure that the soil is sandy and well-draining. For growing in containers use compost such as John Innes No.1 or No.2, with 25% sharp sand or horticultural grit for added drainage. Best results are probably obtained by adding slow release fertiliser granules to the compost at the rate recommended for alpine plants. A top dressing of horticultural grit around the neck of each plant provides an attractive background and prevents the plant from being splashed with mud during heavy rain.

Cultivation:
Whether grown outdoors or in, these plants are good to forget about. Too much attention by nervous gardeners will kill the plant. When grown outdoors in a wet environment, make sure that the soil is sandy and well-draining. If you aren’t careful, your plant will turn to mush. Mix soil with sand, if necessary. When grown indoors, a standard commercial cactus and succulent soil mixture works well. If you are unable to obtain a commercial cactus soil mix, you can make your own, use 50% John Innis No.1 potting compost, 20% grit, 15% sand and 15% vermiculite or perlite.
In the event of an unhealthy plant, the first thing to examine is your watering habits. The most common problem is root rot due to overwatering. If the soil is too wet, don’t hope it will safely dry out so long as you don’t water it for a while. Replace the soil immediately, and remove any damaged roots with sharp sterile scissors or a knife.
Rosularia will propagate themselves through the formation of offshoots, also called 'chicks' or 'pups'. Although some species are more prolific than others, you can also propagate these plants by separating these offsets from the parent plant. First, remove the soil from the base of the offset to find the stolon (thick root which attaches it to the mother plant). Cut the stolon close to the 'pup' (to discourage roots growing from the stolon). Place the offset into a small pot with well-draining, sandy soil. It can take some time for roots to develop, but do not water until new growth is noted.

Origin:
Rosularia is a genus of the family Crassulaceae. It includes about 35 species from Europe, the Himalayas and northern Africa.
They are related to Sempervivum and Jovibarba and are distinguished from each other by their flowers.

Nomenclature:
The genus name Rosularia means 'having a rosette'
Pronounced rek-ING-er-eye, the species is named for Karl Heinz Rechinger, 20th century botanist and author
It has the synonym of Prometheum rechingeri. Named for the mythical Greek hero Prometheus who stole fire from Zeus, shared it with mortals and subsequently spent eternity chained to a to a cliff in the Caucasus for punishment. It is named for the blood-red flowers of the type species which occurs in the Caucasus.
It has the common name of Turkish Stonecrop, which refers to its origin and likening it to the European sempervivum which is called stonecrop.