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Cactus Succulent

Sempervivum 'Lemon Babies'

houseleek 'Lemon Babies'

A mat-forming, evergreen succulent producing neat, fleshy rosettes to 3.5cm across, with small, cobwebbed, pale yellow-green leaves, tipped orange-red in summer then flushed pale red in autumn and winter. Tall spikes of starry pale pink flowers produced from mature rosettes, die off after flowering in summer and are replaced by new offsets

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Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cm
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Yellow Green Red
Summer Pink Yellow Green Red
Autumn Yellow Green
Winter Yellow Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical 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

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile sharply-drained soil with added grit, in full sun. Protect from excessive winter wet. Suitable for rock garden, scree bed, wall crevice, trough or alpine house. See sempervivum cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring, or root offsets in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging
  • Ground cover
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to sempervivum leaf miner and vine weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to a rust

Get involved

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