Sempervivum Commander Hay

Sempervivum 'Commander Hay' is a lovely variety of houseleek, which forms large rosettes of initially pale grey-green leaves in winter, becoming bicoloured and shiny in summer, in a mix of dark red-purple and bluish apple-green. Its summer flowering with yellow-green and tender pink stars with a reddish heart completes the colour palette. This highly colourful variety will work wonders as a cover for neglected areas, even mineral and arid ones. This succulent perennial is perfectly hardy, requires no maintenance, thrives in dry, poor, siliceous or limestone soil, and relies on rainwater, even if it is scarce.

Sempervivum 'Commander Hay' closely resembles the common houseleek or roof houseleek (S. tectorum), from which it originates. The latter is a botanical species native to Europe. This succulent plant of the Crassulaceae family grows spontaneously in rocky meadows, on rocks and scree, in open and sunny situations. It is not uncommon to find it on old walls and roofs in mountain villages.

The hybrid variety 'Commander Hay' is an old English horticultural creation that continues to be successful. The roots of this perennial are thick and long; they penetrate deeply 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 rosettes of different sizes, juxtaposed, reaching 10cm (4in) in diameter at maturity, and not exceeding 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) in height. Over time, this houseleek can grow through its stoloniferous stems to form a carpet that spreads over 60cm (24in) on the ground, perfectly following the contours of the terrain. Resembling a small spread-out artichoke, each rosette is composed of numerous pointed, stalkless leaves. When it is cold, these leaves are green-grey, but they take on purple to reddish shades under warm sunshine, revealing an apple-green base and tips. The flowering appears on rosettes that are 2 or 3 years old, which then disappear, having ensured the plant's perpetuity by producing several small rosettes on the periphery. The 20cm (8in) tall flower stalks develop in summer, formed by thick stems that bear 1 to 5 star-shaped flowers with 8 to 10 tender pink petals with a yellow-green base and a redder centre.

Sempervivum 'Commander Hay', like all houseleeks, is a boon for gardens with thin soil, where few species survive, colonising 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. Houseleeks 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. These endearing perennials quickly inspire the desire to propagate them. Consider choosing companions with staggered flowering times (sedums, thymes) and colourful foliage (bergenia, Euphorbia myrsinites) for a bright and joyful rock garden.