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How to Grow and Care for Houseleeks

Houseleeks, also known as Liveforever

Houseleeks thrive in full sunlight and well-draining soil, making them drought-tolerant and perfect for rock gardens or containers. A key care point is ensuring they are not overwatered; too much moisture can lead to rot. Additionally, houseleeks benefit from occasional grooming to remove dead leaves and offsets, promoting healthy growth.

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Watering schedule: Every 3 weeks

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Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Houseleeks

Care DifficultyEasy
LifespanPerennial
Watering ScheduleEvery 3 weeks
Sunlight RequirementsFull sun
Soil pH6-7
Planting TimeSpring, Fall
Hardiness Zones
3-9
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Types of Houseleeks
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Common houseleek

“Sempervivum” means “always living” in Latin. Adapted to droughts, baking sun, and cold winters of their native south European mountains, the common houseleek can truly live through almost anything. It has been grown for centuries on roofs of European houses as it was believed to deter lightning strikes. Young houseleeks grow around the mother plant, earning it the alternative name “Hens and Chicks.”

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Cobweb hens and chicks

Cobweb hens and chicks (*Sempervivum arachnoideum*) is a plant species native to the Alps, Apennines, and Carpathian Mountains. Cobweb hens and chicks is a popular garden species and is most suitable for green roofs, living walls, and rock gardens. This species grows best in sunlight in well-drained soils with weekly watering.

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Houseleek

Houseleek is a lithophytic and cold-hardy succulent native to the European Alps. This succulent is coveted for its rosette-forming grey-green leaves with maroon tips that will look superb in a rock garden. A mature succulent dies after flowering, but it produces new plants through offshoots before it ends its lifecycle.

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Mountain house-leek

As a member of the Hen and Chicks family, the mountain house-leek (Sempervivum montanum) spreads baby offset plants from a "mother hen," giving this succulent an adorable clustered appearance that makes for a great houseplant. The foliage of each is presented in tight rosettes that slowly mature into a rotund ball of fleshy foliage.

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Houseleek 'Bronze Pastel'

Houseleek 'Bronze Pastel' (Sempervivum 'Bronze Pastel') is a succulent popularly grown in rock gardens and as a houseplant. Houseleek 'Bronze Pastel' is considered a hardy species that can withstand frost. This species grows best in gritty soils. Houseleek 'Bronze Pastel' is also known as hens and chicks.

Common Pests & Diseases

Common issues for Houseleeks based on 10 million real cases

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More General Info About Houseleeks

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Houseleeks consists of rosettes of succulent leaves that typically measure 1-3 inches (2.5-7.6 cm) in diameter. The leaves are fleshy with pointed tips and are often arranged in a tight spiral. They come in a variety of colors ranging from greens to reds to purples. Houseleeks produces star-shaped flowers with colors that complement their foliage, usually blooming in the summer. The flowers emerge from the center of the rosette on a stalk up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall. The plant’s structural adaptation allows it to retain water, making it remarkably resilient in rocky and dry habitats.
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