Sempervivum Chick Charms Appletini

Sempervivum 'Appletini' is part of a new series of hybrid houseleeks from the Chick Charms series, known for their hardiness, ease of cultivation, and original and varied colours. This 'Appletini' variety forms rather flat but perfectly regular rosettes, covered with succulent green leaves tipped with Bordeaux-purple. Its pink flowering of small stars occurs on mature rosettes. This perennial plant spreads spontaneously by producing numerous daughter rosettes, which can be harvested and replanted as desired. It is ideal for embellishing arid and mineral areas. Without any maintenance, sempervivum miraculously survives in a deprived environment and only needs rainwater, even if it is scarce. Houseleeks are very endearing perennials that quickly inspire the desire to collect them!

All houseleeks grow spontaneously in rocky lawns, on rocks and scree, in open and sunny locations, mainly in mountainous areas. They are hardy succulent perennial plants from the Crassulaceae family that retain their foliage even in winter.

'Appletini' has thick, long roots that penetrate deeply into the crevices of rocks, ensuring good adhesion to the walls while drawing water from deep sources. The plant quite rapidly forms beautiful colonies of rosettes of different sizes, juxtaposed, reaching 5cm (2in) in height and 8cm (3in) in diameter at maturity. Over time, this houseleek can form a dense carpet through its stoloniferous stems, spreading up to 30cm (12in) on the ground, perfectly adapting to the terrain. Each pruinose rosette is composed of numerous spatulate leaves with pointed tips, without petioles, imbricated with each other. Their colour can vary depending on the season and climatic conditions. In summer, the tips of the leaves are particularly coloured in violet. The flowering appears on rosettes aged 2 or 3 years, which will then disappear, having ensured the plant's perpetuity through the production of numerous small daughter rosettes on the periphery. The fluffy flower stalks, 15cm (6in) tall, develop from June to August, formed by thick stems that bear 1 to 8 star-shaped flowers with 8 to 12 petals in shades of pink.

'Appletini' is a boon for gardens where the soil lacks depth, where few species survive. It easily colonises abandoned spaces. You can still enjoy this hardy perennial if your soil is poor, rather dry, rocky, stony, or even slightly calcareous. It withstands temperatures below -15°C (5°F)) and requires no maintenance. It promises to enliven any pile of stones, a wall, or even a green roof. Chick Charms houseleeks are are extremely easy-to-care-for succulent plants, offering flowers and foliage in various shades that create stunning compositions. They are magnificent in pots, especially in 'bonsai-style' terracotta containers, and they are irreplaceable in borders, troughs, or rock gardens in the company of London pride (Saxifraga umbrosa), wall bellflowers, or Lewisia cotyledon. Consider choosing companions with staggered blooms (antennaria, small sedums, delosperma) and colourful foliage (Tanacetum densum subsp. amanii, Ajania pacifica, Hertia cheirifolia) for a variegated and joyful rockery.