Hauswurz (House Leek)

Not really a flower, but maybe a pretty rosette also qualifies for Flower Friday. 

This sturdy little plant grows in a stone tub on our terrace. Its German name Hauswurz translates as "house wort", which is quite close to homewort, one of its many English names.

It's originally a mountain dweller, able to store water in its leaves, so it can cope with extremely dry and hot conditions. 

People once used to grow it on their roofs and believed it could protect the house from being hit by lightning, and even from witchcraft. 

I suppose we have a very well protected terrace.