Sempervivum is a genus of about 40 coinage of blossom plant life in the family Crassulaceae , commonly know as houseleeks . Other common names let in liveforever and hen and chicks , a name shared with plants of other genera as well . It is a mat - form succulent that create rosettes of juicy leaves . These leafage are often covered by white tomentum . The large parent little potato is the “ hen , ” while the offshoots are the “ chicks . ”
The nameSempervivumhas its origin in the Latinsemper(“always ” ) andvivus(“living ” ) , because this repeated industrial plant keeps its folio in winter and is very resistant to difficult condition of growth . The common name “ houseleek ” comes from the Anglo Saxon word “ leac ” , meaning plant , since these are literally plant life that acquire on family . They were think to ward off fervidness and lightning strikes . Some Welsh people still hold the old folk belief that having it grow on the ceiling of the house see to it the wellness and successfulness of those who live there .
Sempervivum are very abject - maintenance plants that require almost no attention . They can be left outdoors to spread of their own pact in a rock garden or sandy expanse , and they can even be grown on a roof or lamp chimney side . Sempervivums are monocarpic : they choke after blossom . However , the offsets they produce usually make up for the losses and fill the gaps impart by the dead rosette .
Whether you arise them as houseplants or alfresco , all hen and chicks are low - growing succulent , with thick , sarcoid leaves arranged in rosettes . Sometimes those leaves are shades of green , but often , as with houseleeks , the leave may be tinge with blueish or mysterious Marxist . These folio tints deepen concord to the amount of Light Within the flora receive .
Hens and wench that have been grown indoors are sometimes identifiable as such because they do n’t get enough light to give them their signature colors . Common Varieties of sampervivum works include :
Sempervivum giuseppii
Sempervivum giuseppii is a flatness forming , evergreen , recurrent succulent with pea - green leaves that shape a carpet of foliage by create offset stem canker . The succulent leaves are hairy when young and as they age the tips start to develop small dark coloured spots . Small cluster of red efflorescence are borne on this plant in summer .
Sempervivum ‘Black lotus’
Sempervivum ‘ Black Lotus ’ has compact rosette , formed by flat and elongated leaves , which end with a tip , of a beautiful bright green color at the base , that fades towards dark purpleness ( hence its name ) , with the edge delineate in creamy blanched .
Due to its beautiful color contrast and its underground to scurvy temperatures , Sempervivum ‘ Black Lotus ’ is an ideal plant to add a touching of life to your garden and balcony . In summertime , a thick flowering stem arises from the snapper of the hen rose window and bears showy starry , white prime .
Sempervivum ‘Carmen’
Sempervivum ‘ Carmen ’ is a mat - forming succulent with thick , overweight , emerald green leaf adorned with shining red tips . In winter , the rosette turn a charming reddish blue - purpleness . In summer , a thick flowering husk arise from the pith of the hen rosette and bears showy starry , pinkish white flowers .
Sempervivum ‘Commander Hay’
Sempervivum ‘ Commander Hay ’ has fleshy , purplish - cherry leaf adorned with pointed , bright green gratuity . In summer , a dense efflorescence stalking arises from the centre of the hen rosette and bears showy starry , light-green - red flower .
Sempervivum ‘Hart 8’
Sempervivum ‘ Hart 8 ’ has fleshy , apple - green leave-taking invest with orange - red steer . The vividness varies by time of year , intensifying in summer . In summer , a thick flowering stalk arises from the center field of the hen rose window and bears showy starry , lightheaded pinkish flowers .
Sempervivum ‘Kalinda’
Sempervivum ‘ Kalinda ’ has fleshy , apple green leaves , flushed blood - red at their infrastructure . This color varies by time of year , intensifying in cooler temperatures for a splashy decline or wintertime display . In summer , a thick flowering stalk arises from the nub of the hen rosette and bears showy starry , pink flower .
Sempervivum ‘Ohio Burgundy’
Sempervivum ‘ Ohio Burgundy ’ consist of fleshy , deep burgundy leaves adorned with a dusting of fine hairsbreadth . The colour varies by season , green in summer but intensify in cooler temperature for a showy fall or winter display . In summer , a thick flowering stalk arises from the eye of the hen rosette and bears showy starry , light pinkish flowers .
Sempervivum ‘Pacific Blue Ice’
Sempervivum ‘ Pacific Blue Ice ’ is made up of fleshy , silvern naughty luff leaves flushed blushful - pink to Burgundy wine in cool conditions . In summertime , a thick flowering stalk arise from the shopping centre of the hen russet scab and bears showy starry , pink flowers .
Sempervivum Chick ‘Peggy’
Sempervivum Chick ‘ Peggy ’ is a mat - form succulent perennial mould attractive , evergreen plant rosette that change through many colors over the seasons . In spring , the leaves are purple and changeover to deep Marxist in summer . nightfall and wintertime colors are more subdued , ranging from mahogany to brown .. In summertime , a thick flowering stalk arises from the center of the hen rosette and bears showy starry , pink flower .
Sempervivum ‘Red Beauty’
Sempervivum ‘ Red Beauty ’ consist of fleshy , grey - greenish leaves grace with blood - red crown . The people of color may vary from time of year to season . In summertime , a thick efflorescence stalk uprise from the center of the hen rosette and bears showy starry , pink flowers .
Sempervivum ‘Red Rubin’
Sempervivum ‘ Red Rubin ’ is made up of fleshy , emerald green leave embellish with Burgundy wine - crimson bakshis . This color varies by season , intensifying in cooler temperatures for a showy fall or wintertime video display . In summertime , a deep flowering stalk arises from the center of the hen stem canker and bears showy starry , light pinkish flowers .
Sempervivum ‘Rocknoll Rosette’
Sempervivum ‘ Rocknoll Rosette ’ as with other sempervivum has fleshy , beam wine - red leaves , flushed apple green at their base . This color vary by season , intensifying in cool temperature for a gaudy fall or winter show . In summer , a thick inflorescence stalk arises from the center of attention of the hen rosette and bears showy starry , pink flowers .
Sempervivum ‘Ruby Heart’
Sempervivum ‘ Ruby Heart ’ is a mat - take form succulent perennial forming attractive , evergreen plant rosettes of heavy , sharply maneuver , argent blue to blue - immature leaves , flushed crimson - Red River at their base . This color varies by season , intensifying in cooler temperatures for a splashy fall or winter display . In summer , a thick blossoming stalk stand up from the substance of the hen rosette and bears showy starry , pinkish majestic flower .
Sempervivum calcareum
The Sempervivum calcareum is a a variety of sempervivum sodding for outdoors and perpendicular garden . It forms dim rosettes with thick , stiff leave-taking and thorny margins . The leaves are green , shading ruddy at the summit , which may be brighter and more defined depending on the climate .
Sempervivum arachnoideum
Sempervivum arachnoideum has sarcoid dark-green leaves adorned with cobwebby white hair at their peak . In summertime , a thick unfolding stalk arises from the center of the hen stem canker and bears showy starry , rose - pinkish flowers .
Sempervivum tectorum
Sempervivum tectorum ( Common Houseleek ) has evergreen rosettes , compact with heavy , indicate , blue - dark-green leaves , beautify with reddish - purple tips . In summer , an upright unfolding stubble uprise from the center of the rosette and bears showy starry , purple flowers .
Sempervivum pumilum
The Sempervivum pumilum has elongated , sericeous gullible leaves that take on red vividness , based on the climate . The flowers bloom from longsighted , thin stem and take on colors , ranging from pink to empurple .
Sempervivum Jubilee
Sempervivum jubilee is a beautiful succulent plant , particularly apprize for its magnificent salmagundi of colors and the power to drastically change shade accord to the seasons . Made up of rosettes that tend to bunch up very quickly to form large horizontal carpet that do not go past 15 centimeter in height , this plant has flavourless , long and pointed leave that take on pale light green tones ting with brownish and red when most exposed to the sun .