Zone: Inner Walkway / Rock Borders

Season of Interest: Year-round (Evergreen)

The Doctor’s Notes (Medicinal Use)

Dr. Woodward would have known this plant by its other common name, Houseleek. It was frequently used as a "living cooling pad" for skin ailments:

• Skin Soother: The juice from the crushed succulent leaves was applied to burns, scalds, and insect stings, much like Aloe Vera is used today.

• Wart & Corn Removal: In the 1800s, the acidic juice was a popular folk remedy for softening and removing warts and corns.

• Earache Relief: Some historical medical texts suggest dropping the warmed juice into the ear to ease the pain of an infection.

The Household Assistant (Homestead Use)

The Latin name Sempervivum tectorum literally means "Always Living of the Roofs," reflecting its most famous historical use:

• Fire Protection: It was traditionally planted on thatched roofs across Europe and early America. It was believed to protect the house from lightning strikes and fire due to its high water content.

• Erosion Control: On the Woodward property, these would have been tucked into stone walls and rocky crevices to help hold soil in place.

• Winter Interest: As an evergreen, it provided one of the few signs of life in the garden during a cold Franklin winter.

Botanist’s Corner

• Form: A low-growing succulent that produces a large central rosette (the "Hen") which sends out smaller offsets (the "Chicks") on runners.

• Foliage: Thick, fleshy leaves that store water, allowing the plant to survive in extreme drought and poor soil.

• Flowers: Occasionally, a mature "Hen" will send up a tall, strange-looking flower stalk. After blooming, that specific rosette dies, leaving its "Chicks" to take over the space.