Felder Rushing
Family
Crassulaceae
Botanical Name
Sempervivum tectorum
Plant Common Name
Common Houseleek, Hens and Chicks
General Description
This old-fashioned garden perennial is hardy, succulent and evergreen. Commonly called the houseleek, Sempervivum tectorum is so drought tolerant it will grow on old thatched roofs and even well worn tile roofs with a bit of organic matter. This European alpine has been in cultivation for well over a thousand years. In fact, the Frankish king, Charlemagne, listed it as an essential garden plant for protecting homes from fire in his 9th Century treatise on useful plants, the Capitulare de Villis.
Houseleeks form dense, low-growing rosettes of succulent green or blue-green leaves. Over time the rosettes generate pups to form contiguous, spreading colonies.
In late spring or early summer, mature rosettes will elongate and form a branched clusters of starry, pink flowers at the top. The flowers are pollinated by bees and the fruits are brown and inconspicuous. Once a rosette has flowered it will die, but its pups that have not flowered will continue.
If given full sun and sharply drained, neutral to alkaline soil, houseleeks will thrive. They have few pests and diseases but will quickly succumb to root and stem rot if subjected to saturated soil for too long. They are ideal rock garden and container subjects and look great spotted in the crevices of mortarless walls.
There are lots of lovely cultivars that vary in rosette size, vigor and foliage color. The interesting selection, ‘Oddity’, has quilled leaflets, 'Limelight' has glowing chartreuse leaves and the foliage of ‘Atropurpureum’ is an attractive purple-red.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 8
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Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Cactus or Succulent
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
2"-4" / 5.1cm - 10.2cm
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Width
2"-5" / 5.1cm - 12.7cm
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Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
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Native To
Europe
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Pink
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Red, Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Red, Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Red, Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Red, Green, Gray Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Alpine, Container, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
No
