Houseleek species and varieties, succulents with soft, rich colors

With striking designer-like leaves, cute and colorful rosettes, houseleek (or Sempervivum) is among those few plants that require neither care nor water. Amazing, isn’t it?

“Sempervivum” means immortal. It’s a small succulent plant, a perennial that grows on rocks, atop walls, and in arid deserts…

Houseleek

A hardy plant native to the mountain ranges of Europe, it feels at home in light, poor soil. Whether it’s sandy or chalky doesn’t matter, as long as it gets full sun and heat. A note of caution: you’ll have to “harden” your plant out somewhat before setting it in full sun if all it’s ever had was indoor growing, or it’ll get sunburned.

Houseleek is more than just a filler plant to populate areas where nothing else will grow, its an opportunity to create a plant landscape that knows no restrictions! It only needs minimal water. Even the occasional puddle might lead to a rotten death! Optimal, perfect drainage is it’s only requirement.

To propagate, simply plop a rosette with a root on a rock with a handful of dirt, and it’ll find ways to hang on.

Over 4,000 species of houseleek

In a pot that drains well (with a hole underneath), it isn’t very difficult to recreate the perfect growing substrate: mix regular dirt or soil to an equal part of large gravel (or pozzolana, or sand), that’s it!

What will probably take you longest is choosing the container: vintage? design? sentimental? It should highlight the plant well. Create an arrangement with houseleek, Echeveria and Sedum, since they all thrive in exactly the same environment.

From the more than 4000 species that exist, a majority will have either green, red or pink rosettes of all sizes, but a few stand out with yellow and even chocolatey-purple colors. Spectacular!

Summer blooming adds a touch of pink or yellow color, and often brings welcome vertical lines in an often flat-growing plant. With a few delicate snips of the pruner, remove the floral scapes after the blooming and before winter. As for winter, no need to worry: houseleek doesn’t fear the cold as long at it’s dry, it can cope with temperatures as low as 5°F (-15°C).

Our fave’ of the moment? The Chick Charms Gold® Nugget

This Fall, adopt a hybrid red houseleek with truly one-of-a-kind flamboyant colors. This newcomer will bring a touch firelight to the garden over the cold season – but its foliage will turn green again in Spring.

The Chick Charms Gold^® Nugget is unique in that it shows its colors in Winter, unlike the other more traditional varieties that turn red in Summer.

Like all other Sempervivums, it propagates spontaneously through its numerous rosettes. It forms a stunning ground cover, even a bit hypnotic. The Chick Charms^® series numbers quite a few other specimens that will surely catch your eye…

Claire Lelong-Lehoang