Sempervivum 'Fernwood'

Sempervivum 'Fernwood' is a cultivated member of what is commonly known as houseleeks, in the Crassulaceae family. It was developed from species native to the mountainous regions of southern Europe, where plants thrive in rocky outcrops and shallow, fast-draining soils under full sun. This background gives the cultivar high resilience to drought, nutrient-poor conditions, and freezing winter weather.

The rosettes are well-shaped and compact, with fleshy, triangular leaves that display green bases blending into red or burgundy tips, with seasonal colour variation influenced by light and temperature. Cooler conditions or strong sunlight often intensify the red pigmentation. Offsets are produced abundantly, creating expanding mats over time. Like all Sempervivum, each rosette is monocarpic, flowering once before dying, with offsets ensuring the colony’s continuation.

Flowering occurs in summer when mature rosettes produce a sturdy stem topped with clusters of star-shaped blooms. These are usually pink to reddish in colour and attract a range of insect pollinators. Following seed production, the flowering rosette dies back, leaving space for offsets to take over growth.

Care Tips:

• Light: Full sun for compact growth and rich seasonal colouration.
• Water: Water sparingly, allowing the substrate to dry completely between waterings.
• Media: Gritty, free-draining mix suited to alpine and succulent plants.
• Fertiliser: Light feeding with a diluted, low-nitrogen fertiliser during the growing season if required.
• Temperature: Hardy to frost and prolonged freezing when kept dry.
• Repotting: Minimal; divide and replant offsets or refresh substrate when clumps become dense.