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Sempervivum Ruby Star

Sempervivum (BigSam series) Ruby Star
Houseleek, Liveforever, Hen and Chicks

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More information

The 'Ruby Star' Sempervivum (BigSamâ„¢ Series) is a recent evergreen hens-and-chicks, featuring very large, purple-violet rosettes, shaded with red. Fond of dry and not too rich soils, it will fit well in pots and rockeries, and over the years will form an attractive, efficient, and undemanding ground cover.
Flower size
3 cm
Height at maturity
5 cm
Spread at maturity
30 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil
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Best planting time March, September
Recommended planting time March to May, September to November
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Flowering time June to August
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Description

Sempervivum 'Ruby Star' (BigSamâ„¢ Series) is a recent variety of houseleek, featuring very large evergreen rosettes in purple-violet, shaded with red. Thriving in dry and not too rich soils, it will work well in pots and rockeries and will gradually form an attractive, efficient, and undemanding ground cover.

Houseleeks, or Jupiter's Beard (referring to their shaggy appearance) belong to the Crassulaceae family, which includes, among others, sedums, kalanchoes, aeoniums, ... almost all of which are succulent plants (also known as crassulacean plants, referring to the family), capable of storing water in their thick leaves and resisting long droughts. Sempervivum are no exception and can even establish themselves on very shallow supports, such as the moss carpet on old roofs or the crevices in an old stone wall. They were once believed to have the power to repel lightning, and their presence was encouraged on buildings. They form persistent rosettes, resembling small "artichokes," with spoon-shaped leaves ending in a point. In early summer, rosettes aged 2-3 years produce a tall flower stalk of 10 to 30 cm, impressive compared to the size of the plant, but with relatively inconspicuous pink flowers. Generally, the "mother" rosette dies after flowering, leaving behind numerous small rosettes that will take its place and gradually enlarge the clump, eventually forming a charming dense and low-growing ground cover. Wild species are mostly a beautiful bluish-green or tender green, often with a thin waxy layer to protect them from the sun's heat.

In recent years, horticultural selection has brought forth superb cultivars with more original foliage and colours. The houseleeks of the recent BigSamâ„¢ series stand out for their particularly large and robust rosettes, reaching 12 to 15 cm in diameter. The 'Ruby Star' variety has entirely reddish-purple rosettes, sometimes reddish-violet, with occasional bluish or slightly greener touches if lacking sunlight. A magnificent ever-evolving tableau!

 

Houseleeks are undemanding, hardy, and resistant, they simply require a sunny exposure and not too rich, well-drained soil, preferably sandy or rocky. In overly rich soil or partial shade, the rosettes tend to become elongated and lose their elegance. If winters are humid, make sure to raise your plants slightly or improve drainage by adding coarse sand, gravel, or pumice. In these conditions, they can withstand -15°C without any problem. They are capable of enduring long dry periods, especially if the substrate is deep enough to allow their fleshy roots to establish properly.

Due to their generous and water-tolerant nature, houseleeks make excellent container plants, perfect for sunny rockeries, alongside a 'April Night' woodland sage, immortelle, Cat's Eyes dwarf iris, or dryland grasses like Sesleria heufleriana.

 

Flowering

Flower colour pink
Flowering time June to August
Inflorescence Corymb
Flower size 3 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour purple

Plant habit

Height at maturity 5 cm
Spread at maturity 30 cm
Growth rate slow

Botanical data

Genus

Sempervivum

Cultivar

(BigSam series) Ruby Star

Family

Crassulaceae

Other common names

Houseleek, Liveforever, Hen and Chicks

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference8955671

Planting and care

Sempervivum plants like sunny to semi-shaded exposures, and perfectly drained, moist to dry, poor soils that do not retain water. You can plant them in the ground or in pots in spring or autumn, adding gravel or coarse sand to the planting substrate. Conversely, if you place them in a rock garden or on a wall, just give them a little soil to allow them to establish. Afterwards, they will take care of themselves.

If you want to propagate them, simply cut a few young rosettes and replant them elsewhere, slightly burying the roots. Take care of them by ensuring they are not overwhelmed by taller plants or covered with dead leaves or vegetation, and by removing any faded small inflorescences.

 

 

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Planting period

Best planting time March, September
Recommended planting time March to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Rockery
Type of use Edge of border, Container, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Perfectly drained, poor.

Care

Pruning instructions Simply remove the stems and old dry rosettes if necessary.
Pruning No pruning necessary
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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