Sempervivum ciliosum, ciliated houseleek

Crassulaceae are found all over the world. They grow in African deserts as well as on the high plateaus of southern China. In Europe, in the mountains of the Balkans, Sempervivum ciliosum thrives in the most hostile nooks and crannies.

How to recognize Sempervivum ciliosum, the ciliated houseleek?

Sempervivum ciliosum is a succulent plant with a compact, creeping habit. Its height does not exceed ten centimetres.

Its thick, long roots enable it to survive in the most inhospitable places. They find their way among stones, in wall cracks or along rock faces.

Ciliated houseleek has no stem. Its leaves form a globular rosette from one to five centimetres wide. The color of the leaf blades varies from cultivar to cultivar. The botanical variety is green. But there are hybrids with violet, purple or blue-green foliage. Whatever their hue, the leaves are always covered with fine grey hairs.

Sempervivum ciliosum blooms in summer. While the flowers of spider's web houseleek and mountain Jewel are pink, those of ciliated houseleeks are yellow. They hatch into a cyme at the top of a ten-centimetre flowering spike. The plant dies after flowering. But before it does, it gives rise to numerous offshoots.

Joubarbe is said to have therapeutic virtues. It is said to be used to treat skin problems and burns. However, some scientists consider the plant to be toxic if ingested. Keep it away from pets and young children.

Our maintenance tips

Sempervivum ciliosum are easy-living outdoor plants. All they need is a sunny spot and a well-draining substrate. They can flourish on a roof, in the crack of a low wall or in a rockery. You can also grow them in pots. There's just one rule: don't mix them with other species, which might take over.

Watering

Make sure the soil is completely dry before watering. Pour room-temperature water over the potting soil, without wetting the foliage.

Do not leave standing water in the cup.

Spray

Sempervivum ciliosum grow in arid regions and do not like humidity. No need to spray them.

Repotting

Every spring, repot your Sempervivum ciliosum to give it more space.

Obtain a pierced terracotta pot. Line the bottom with a layer of clay balls or gravel. This way, in the event of over-watering, your plant won't get its feet wet.

Add a mixture of garden soil (50%) and sand or pozzolan (50%). Plant your Ciliated houseleek in the center. Tamp and water to remove air bubbles.

Prune

Remove dried leaf rosettes after flowering.

Plantation

When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.

Choose a sunny, well-drained spot, such as the top of a slope. Loosen your soil by scratching it. If your soil is compact, add sand, crushed pozzolana or gravel to lighten it.

Dig a hole the size of the root ball and plant your Ciliated houseleek. Space the different plants at least 20 cm apart to give the shoots room to develop. Don't plant other, larger varieties nearby. They may overshadow and take over the whole space.

Tamp and water to help the plant take root.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Locate a young shoot and carefully separate it from the mother plant. Take care to remove its roots without damaging the rest of the root system.

Obtain a perforated pot. Add a layer of clay balls or gravel to the bottom for drainage.

Mix equal parts garden soil and sand or crushed pozzolan. Plant sempervivum ciliosum in the center. Tamp gently and water generously to encourage rooting.

Disease / Threat

Rust

Information

Family	Crassulaceae - Crassulaceae
Type	Joubarbe - Sempervivum
Species	Ciliated houseleek - Sempervivum ciliosum
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrats	Calcareous earth Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots Planter
Categories	Rhizome Herbaceous Flowery Succulent
Tags	Beginner Flowery Increvable Rustic Toxic
Origins	Eastern Europe Southern Europe
Hardiness (USDA)	7b
Leaf color
Flower color