Sempervivum Coral Gray

Sempervivum 'Coral Gray' (BigSam Series) is a recent variety of houseleek, featuring very large evergreen, astonishing bronze-purple rosettes. It will thrive in sunny and dry soils that are not too rich and work well in pots and rockeries, over the years it will 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 and aeoniums, almost all of which are succulent plants (also known as crassulacean plants, referring to the family), capable of storing water in their fleshy leaves and withstanding long droughts. Sempervivum are no exception and can establish themselves even on very shallow substrates, 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 evergreen 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 which is 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 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 produced superb cultivars with more original foliage and colours. The houseleeks of the recent BigSam series stand out for their particularly large and robust, 12 to 15 cm diameter rosettes. The 'Coral Gray' variety presents a surprising bronze-purple colour; depending on the exposure, the leaves can even take on beautiful chocolate hues, all enhanced by a reddish edge.

Houseleeks are undemanding, hardy, and robust, simply needing a sunny exposure and a 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 wet, 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-saving nature, houseleeks make excellent pot plants and are perfect for sunny rockeries, alongside 'Kahori' carnations, 'Goliath' alpine asters, alpine savory, or even with small grasses like 'Elijah Blue' fescue and its graceful steel-blue foliage.