Sempervivum 'Heliotroop'

RHS Plant Profile
houseleek 'Heliotroop'

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houseleek 'Heliotroop' RHS / Joanna Kossak

Synonyms

Sempervivum 'Heliotrope'

Alpine Rockery Herbaceous Perennial Cactus Succulent

A mat-forming, evergreen compact perennial alpine with large rosettes of violet-purple leaves, sometimes green at the tips, which are tapered at the base and wider at the top.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Crassulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus
Sempervivum are evergreen perennials forming mats of fleshy-leaved rosettes, often attractively coloured, with star-shaped pink or pale yellow flowers in summer
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun. Protect from excessive winter wet. Suitable for rock garden, scree bed, wall crevice, trough or alpine house. See hardy cacti and succulent cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by offsets in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to sempervivum leaf miner, slugs, snails, and vine weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to a rust