Sempervivum MIXED

Sempervivum MIXED - Houseleek mixed species, Sempervivum mixed, Hens and Chicks.

Sempervivum comprises up to sixty species, widely known under names such as houseleek, stone rose, and hen and chicks. The name derives from the Latin words 'semper' - always and 'vivus' - living, for the ability of the leaf rosettes to remain viable under extreme conditions of existence. These plants are called stone roses not only for the flower-like form of their rosettes, but also for their ability to survive in the most extreme environments. At the time of blooming, the houseleek resembles a broody hen surrounded by numerous chicks. Hence its popular English name 'Hens and Chickens'.

It is hard to imagine another plant that combines such vivid beauty with remarkable unpretentiousness and Spartan endurance. Scree slopes and rock crevices, sandy or clay soil, and often the near absence of any soil at all, open blazing sun and periodic lack of moisture - everything is quite comfortable for them (largely because this perennial belongs to succulents). Thanks to these qualities, houseleek is ideally suited for rock gardens, which are an indispensable feature of modern landscape design. Add to this vegetative offset propagation and an exotic appearance (after all, many of them resemble cacti), and take into account that it is capable of overwintering under snow at -30 °C (-22 °F), and it becomes clear why they attract thousands of enthusiasts worldwide. In recent years, enthusiasts of this genus have also emerged locally. Hopefully, this will not be limited to mechanical collection building, but will give impetus to regional breeding of these plants.

Seeds are sown on the surface and dusted with a thin layer of soil no thicker than 1 mm (0.04 in). They are moistened from a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light at a temperature of 20–24 °C (68–75 °F). Sprouts require ventilation. Both overwatering and desiccation of the sowings must be avoided. Seedlings appear within 3-5 days.

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The plants are well adapted to unstable climates. They are quite hardy in cultivation and require no measures against excess moisture other than good drainage. The most sensitive to dampness is the densely pubescent cobweb houseleek. All species and cultivars are drought-resistant. Shading, including by weeds or fallen leaves, is detrimental to them. Of course, they do not die immediately when overgrown, but they stretch out, losing their compact shape and vibrant coloring. Care consists of timely removal of weeds and spent inflorescences along with the dead leaf rosette.

In damp soil, lower leaves in the rosette begin to rot. This is the first sign of excessive moisture. Once every 3-5 years, if groupings become overly crowded and rosettes begin to shrink, houseleeks are divided and replanted. Houseleeks are nevertheless not entirely immune to drought, especially if grown in poor soils: they do not die, but curl their rosettes and lose decorative appeal. They develop well in any cultivated soil, avoiding waterlogged sites. However, dry, poor, sandy soils are preferred. If the soil contains many nutrients, the plant will indeed form larger rosettes, but their coloration will be somewhat paler than usual and they will be less hardy over winter. Soils for all species are preferably neutral or slightly alkaline. Coarse sand, expanded clay, and crushed granite screenings are used for aeration. Plants are spaced so that the distance between specimens of large species is 10–15 cm (4–6 in), and of small ones 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in). Within a year, daughter rosettes will completely carpet the soil surface.