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Alpine RockeryCactus Succulent

Sempervivum calcareum 'Sir William Lawrence'
  • RHS AGM

houseleek 'Sir William Lawrence'

'Sir William Lawrence' is a mat-forming, evergreen, succulent perennial forming rosettes of fleshy, ovate, and pointed grey-green leaves tipped with maroon red, each rosette around 2cm in diameter. Clusters of sticky, pale green flowers flushed with purple are borne on short stems in summer

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Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cm
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Red Green Grey Silver
Summer Green Purple Red Green Grey Silver
Autumn Red Green Grey Silver
Winter Red Green Grey Silver
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Crassulaceae
Native to the UK
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

Propagation

Propagate by rooting offsets in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Patio and container plants
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Rock garden
  • Garden edging
Pruning

Carefully remove spent rosettes after flowering

Pests

May be damaged by sempervivum leaf miner, slugs and snails, and vine weevil larvae

Diseases

May be affected by a rust

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.