Sempervivum tectorum

Sempervivum tectorum, better known as Houseleek, is the most well-known botanical species and one of the easiest to grow. Native to mountains, it often finds its way into the walls and roofs of high-altitude villages. This curious perennial plant forms mats of small succulent rosettes, green or tinged with red, that resemble miniature artichokes. Its rose-purple star-shaped flowers emerge from the centre of mature rosettes on a summer day, in an unexpected burst of colour. This very hardy perennial thrives with little soil and only relies on rainwater. It fills terracotta pots, neglected areas, or cracks in old walls.

Houseleek is native to the mountain ranges of Europe and Morocco. This succulent plant from the Crassulaceae family grows naturally in rocky meadows, on rocks and scree, in open and sunny locations. It is not uncommon to find it on the old walls and roofs of mountain villages. The roots of this perennial are thick and long and penetrate deep into the crevices of rocks, ensuring a good grip on the walls while drawing water from deep below. The plant slowly forms small colonies of diferent sized rosettes reaching 10 cm (4in) in diameter at maturity, and not exceeding 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) high. Over time, this Houseleek can spread up to 60 cm (24in) on the ground through its stoloniferous stems, perfectly adapting to the terrain. Each rosette has numerous pointed leaves, without petioles, green or tinged with red. Rosettes aged 2 or 3 years flower and then disappear, after producing several small rosettes on the periphery. In summer, 15 cm (6in) tall flower stalks develop, formed by thick stems covered with purple scales, bearing 1 to 5 star-shaped flowers with 8-10 dull, dark pink petals.

Sempervivum tectorum, like all Houseleeks, is a boon for gardens with thin soil where few species survive, colonising abandoned spaces. If your land is poor, rather dry, stony, rocky, or even slightly chalky, you can still enjoy this hardy perennial (which withstands temperatures below -15°C), which requires no maintenance and livens up any pile of stones, a low wall, or even a green roof. Houseleeks are easy-to-care-for succulent plants, with flowers and foliage in various shades that allow for stunning compositions. They are magnificent in pots, especially in shallow bowls, and irreplaceable in borders, troughs, or rockeries, alongside London Pride (Saxifraga umbrosa), wall bellflowers, or Lewisia cotyledon. People love to collect these endearing perennials. Consider choosing companions with staggered blooms (Sedums, Thymes) and colourful foliage (Bergenia, Euphorbia myrsinites...) for a variegated rockery.

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In the past, this plant, nicknamed 'Jupiter's Beard', was associated with white magic. An old belief attributed to it a protective power against lightning, a specific attribute of the god Jupiter. It was advised to plant Houseleeks on the roofs of thatched cottages.