Sempervivum erythraeum
red houseleek
A mat-forming, evergreen perennial with open rosettes of succulent, ovate to spoon-shaped leaves coloured green with a purple tinge and covered with dense, short hairs giving the leaves a velvety look. Flowering stems, up to 20cm long, carry pink to reddish-purple flowers up to 2cm in diameter
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Purple | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink Purple | Green Purple | ||
| Autumn | Green Purple | |||
| Winter | Green Purple |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Crassulaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Matforming
- Genus
Sempervivum are evergreen perennials forming mats of fleshy-leaved rosettes, often attractively coloured, with star-shaped pink or pale yellow flowers in summer
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Bulgaria
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile gritty soil in full sun. Protect from excessive winter wet. Suitable for rock garden, scree bed, wall crevice, trough or alpine house
Propagation
Propagate by rooting offsets in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Patio and container plants
- Rock garden
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to vine weevil and sempervivum leaf miner
Diseases
May be affected by a rust
Get involved
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