type :
Perennials, Succulents
sun exposure :
Full Sun, Partial Shade
water :
Drought Tolerant, Moderate Water
planting zones :
US (Upper South) / Zone 6, MS (Middle South) / Zone 7, LS (Lower South) / Zone 8, CS (Coastal South) / Zone 9
Plant Details
Native to mountains of Europe. Form tightly packed rosettes of fleshy, evergreen leaves; spread by little offsets that cluster around parent rosette. Clustered, star-shaped summer flowers in white, yellowish, pink, red, or greenish; pretty in detail but not showy. Blooming rosettes die after setting seed, but offsets (easily detached and replanted) carry on. There are many species; all are good in rock gardens, pots, even in pockets in boulders or pieces of porous rock. Need excellent drainage. Water only to prevent shriveling.
cobweb houseleek
sempervivum arachnoideum
- Gray-green rosettes of many leaves are joined by fine hairs for a cobweb-covered look.
- Larger rosettes (to 2 inches wide) are surrounded by a host of smaller ones.
- Spreads slowly to make a dense mat to 1 feet or wider.
- Bright red flowers on 4- to 6 inches stems.
- Cebennense has cobwebby green leaves with burgundy tips.
- Leaves of 'Rubrum' are flushed with red in spring.
sempervivum hybrids
- Most selections sold fall into this category.
- All form crowded rosettes that vary mainly in color and leaf shape.
- Oddity is the most widely sold, with burgundy-tipped green tubular leaves; grows 8 inches high, 12 inches wide.
- Black has deep maroon leaves with contrasting green new growth.
- Carmen has large rosettes of green leaves tipped in red.
- Leaves of 'Krebs' are chocolatey green; those of 'Rubikon Improved' are red.
hen and chickens
sempervivum tectorum
- Gray-green, 2- to 5 inches-wide rosettes spread quickly to form clumps to 2 feet or wider.
- Leaves have red-brown, bristly tips.
- Red or reddish blossoms are borne on stems to 2 feet tall.
- An old-time passalong plant.
