Sempervivum tectorum
Common name: Common houseleek · Hens and chicks · Jupiter's beard
Sempervivum tectorum is a mat-forming evergreen succulent native to the mountains of southern Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Alps and the Carpathians. It forms dense rosettes of thick, pointed, green leaves often tipped with red, and spreads by offsets ("chicks") around the mother rosette. Each rosette flowers once, sending up a stalk of star-shaped pink flowers, then dies and is replaced by its offsets. It is one of the most widely grown hardy succulents, traditionally planted on rooftops and in rock gardens.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun
Water
Low; drought tolerant, avoid soggy soil
Soil
Lean, gritty, sharply drained soil
Hardiness
Zones 3–8
Mature height
About 10–15 cm (0.3–0.5 ft)
Pet safe
Yes, non-toxic to cats and dogs
Difficulty
Easy
Propagation
Simply detach the offsets that cluster around each mother rosette, let the wound dry for a day, and press them onto gritty, well-drained soil; they root in a few weeks. Offsets can be taken almost any time in the growing season.
Fun facts
- Romans planted houseleeks on roofs, believing they protected the house from lightning — hence "tectorum", meaning "of the rooftops".
- Each rosette is monocarpic: it flowers once after a few years, then dies, leaving its offsets to carry on.
- The Latin name Sempervivum means "always alive", a nod to the plant's extreme hardiness and drought tolerance.
- Its leaves were once used in folk medicine as a cooling remedy for burns and stings, much like aloe.