Tree houseleek
Millions of years ago, the plant spread from the mainland to the Canary Islands.
Copyright Egon Krogsgaard
Tree houseleek is a good example of what may happen when a plant manages to disperse to a remote island.
Most species of tree houseleek are found in the Canary Islands, where they have adapted to a wide range of habitats. By studying their genetic material, scientists have found out that they all come from the same ancestor that was dispersed to the islands from the mainland several million years ago.
In this area of the Mediterranean House, you can find a number of different species of tree houseleek from the Canary Islands. Tree houseleek is similar to the houseleek (Sempervivum) found in many Danish gardens. Tree houseleek, however, does not withstand frost and is therefore only grown indoors in Denmark
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: Mediterranean House
- Danish name: Træhusløg
- Latin name: Aeonium
- Family: Stonecrop family / Crassulaceae
- Natural habitat: Canary Islands