Sempervivum ‘Red Nails’

Red Nails hens and chicks
Green rosettes get pink tips in winter weather. Attractive light webbing. Starry pink flower spikes are long-lasting.
height 4–6in
width 4–12in
tolerates Cold, Drought, Pots
water
needs		 Low – Moderate
water
info		 Sempervivums are drought tolerant succulents, wanting to go from wet to dry, but they’ll need additional water if they are grown in a particularly sunny hot spot, especially away from the coast or in a rock garden where the rocks will heat up the area.
hardy
to		 -30F
exposure Full Sun – Part Shade
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
origin Hybrid of European species
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 2–24

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

Sempervivums have a dense form, eventually creating a solid mat of tightly packed rosettes.
Sempervivums have such a shallow root system that they almost seem detached at times, and in fact this is by design, allowing them to roll or be blown to a new location, where they can begin a new life. Don’t be discouraged if you find your sempervivum growing on long thin ‘branches’! This is usually a sign that the plant has filled its pot/rock/crack and is heading out for a new home.
Each rosette will eventually throw off a short unfurling spike of star-shaped flowers. Afterwards that head will die off, replaced by pups, and it can be removed. Sempervivums bloom during summer months.

Special Interest

Sempervivum means ‘long-lived,‘ attesting to this plant’s durability in the garden and ability to grow in tough conditions with little soil.

The common name ‘house leek’ refers to sempervivum’s usefulness on living roofs and also the edibility of the young shoots, said to taste similar to cucumbers.