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Sempervivum

Hardy Sempervivums are evergreen, mat-forming succulents from mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. They are also known as Live Forever Plants, Houseleeks and Hens and Chicks. Historically used medicinally and as food, they are beloved rock garden, container and roof garden plants.

Sempervivum do best when grown in well drained, low fertility soil in full sun to partial shade. They are extremely cold and drought tolerant and thrive with neglect. Individual plants vary in their appearance, often becoming redder in cold weather, and also changing colors when grown under different growing conditions.  Plants are organized in clusters of large rosettes (hens) and smaller offset rosettes (chicks).  Hens sporadically produce flower stalks and these large rosettes die after flowering with the smaller chicks growing into the empty space left behind.  Although some gardeners remove the flower stalks, we prefer to leave them in place because they attract beneficial insect pollinators. 

Sempervivums hybridize readily and collectors are attracted to the seemingly infinite colors, sizes, shapes and growth forms of the many cultivars. Many of the following named cultivars are our own seed grown selections.  Flowers are in tones of pink unless otherwise indicated.  
Sempervivum 'Alta'

Sempervivum 'Alta'


Tightly packed mid-green rosettes to 2"

with deep burgundy tips

Rosette size: Small

Sempervivum 'Aria' in summer

Sempervivum 'Aria'

Mounding, light olive-green rosettes to 3"

with bright reddish brown tips

Rosette size: Medium
Sempervivum 'Bellagio'

Sempervivum 'Bellagio'

Huge bright green rosettes to 6”

with burgundy leaf ends

Rosette size: Large
Sempervivum 'Elvira'

Sempervivum 'Elvira'


Large rosettes to 5 1/2" with dark red color

Rosette size: Large
Sempervivum 'Harlequin'

Sempervivum 'Harlequin'


Olive-green rosettes to
4” with bright red centers

Rosette size: Medium
Sempervivum 'Lucille'

Sempervivum 'Lucille'

Pale green rosettes to 4”
with cream watermarks and red tips

Rosette size: Medium
Sempervivum 'Manzanillo'

Sempervivum 'Manzanillo'

Apple green rosettes to
3 ½” with pink base (in cold weather) and red tip ends

Rosette size: Medium
Sempervivum 'Monte Verde'

Sempervivum 'Monte Verde'

Pale olive-green rosettes to 4”
with pink base and prominent watermarks

Rosette size: Medium
Sempervivum 'Nyx'

Sempervivum 'Nyx'

Olive green rosettes to
3 1/2” with red tips and offset rosettes
on long brown stolons


Rosette size: Medium
Sempervivum 'Oddity'

Sempervivum 'Oddity'

Strange pale green, red tipped leaves curl back on

themselves to form tubes.  Sometimes called

'Trumpeter'.


Rosette size: Medium

Sempervivum 'Pandora'

Sempervivum 'Pandora'

Dark olive rosettes to 3 1/2"
with reddish brown flush and watermarks

Rosette size:Medium
Sempervivum 'Roma'

Sempervivum 'Roma'

Small mid-green rosettes to 2 1/2"
with reddish brown tips

Rosette size:Small
Sempervivum 'Rossini'

Sempervivum 'Rossini'

Large rosettes to 6”
with strong burgundy markings

Rosette size: Large
Sempervivum 'Siena'

Sempervivum 'Siena'

Dark green rosettes to
4” with pale watermarks and
prominent burgundy tips

Rosette size: Medium
Sempervivum 'Spinner'

Sempervivum 'Spinner'

Heavy webbing on 2 1/2" rosettes

with  strong red centers

Rosette size: Medium
Sempervivum 'Viridian'

Sempervivum 'Viridian'

Mounding, pale blue-green rosettes to 4"

Rosette size: Medium
Sempervivum 'Vivaldi'

Sempervivum 'Vivaldi'

Large red blushed olive-green rosettes to 6"

Rosette size: Large
 
   

 

Sempervivum arachnoideum©

Sempervivum arachnoideum 'Spumanti'

Sempervivum close-up

Photo courtesy of Gregg Fishel

 

Sempervivum tectorum©

©

  

 

The genus Sempervivum includes succulent rosettes of many different colors, sizes and textures. 

S. arachnoideum 'Spumanti' is a selection that has the typical cobweb appearance of the spider semp and grows in a crowded clusters of small rosettes that look like bubbles to us!  Looks great in a container.

Grow all semps in full sun to partial shade in gritty, well-drained soil.   Water sparingly.   One of the easiest of all plants to grow in rock gardens, crevices and walls, and containers. Thrives with neglect.  Hardy to   –20 degrees F. Crassulaceae

 

 

 

 

 
 
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