- Botanical name: Sempervivum calcareum
- Common name: Houseleek
- Family: Crassulaceae
- Plant Type: Alpine, Cactus or succulent, Perennial
Pink
Green
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
- Flowers
Sempervivums, sometimes called houseleeks or hens-and-chicks, are hardy, succulent plants that grow in the wild between rocks in mountainous regions. They look superb when grown in containers, in rock gardens, and in dry stone walls and cracks in paving, especially alongside low evergreen plants such as sedums. Although they look outstanding in winter when there’s little else of interest in the garden, sempervivums also look great in summer, when, tall, conical spikes of greenish pink flowers emerge from the centre of mature plants.
Sempervivum calcareum is coveted for its distinct leaf colouring. It bears striking, large, grey-green rosettes, which shade to reddish-brown at the leaf tips. For best results, grow Sempervivum calcareum in full sun in well-drained soil, preferably in containers with added horticultural grit to aid drainage. Sempervivums don’t need feeding, but do benefit from being repotted each year into compost containing slow-release fertiliser. Propagate new plants by gently teasing out the small baby rosettes (chicks) which appear around the main plant (hen), and transplant to a new location.
How to grow Sempervivum calcareum
-
Plant size
20cm height
30cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do not Divide in March |
A
Do not Divide in April |
M
Do Divide in May |
J
Do Divide in June |
J
Do Divide in July |
A
Do Divide in August |
S
Do Divide in September |
O
Do not Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
Sempervivum calcareum and wildlife
Sempervivum calcareum has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Sempervivum calcareum poisonous?
Sempervivum calcareum has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Sempervivum calcareum
