Sempervivum ‘Gay Jester’

Houseleek

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Flowers
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Flowers	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D

Botanical name: Sempervivum 'Gay Jester'
Common name: Houseleek
Family: Crassulaceae
Plant Type: Alpine, Cactus or succulent, Perennial

Flower colour:

Pink

Foliage colour:

Bronze

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 ‘Gay Jester’ is a particularly pretty houseleek, bearing medium-sized rosettes of red spoon-shaped leaves, which lighten to mid-green at the tips. Short spikes of pink flowers appear in summer.

For best results, grow Sempervivum ‘Gay Jester’ 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.