Sempervivum 'Fuego'

Sempervivum 'Fuego' is a cultivated member of what is commonly known as houseleeks, in the Crassulaceae family. It originates from breeding work using species native to the mountainous regions of southern Europe, where they grow in rocky crevices and shallow, free-draining soils under full sun. This background equips the plant with strong resilience to drought, poor soils, and freezing winter conditions.

The rosettes are compact and symmetrical, with fleshy, pointed leaves that display vivid red to orange-red tones, often intensifying in cooler weather or under strong sunlight. Seasonal colour changes add to its ornamental appeal, and offsets are produced freely, forming dense clusters over time. Like all Sempervivum, each rosette is monocarpic, flowering once before dying, with offsets maintaining the colony’s growth.

Flowering typically occurs in summer when mature rosettes send up a leafy stem topped with clusters of star-shaped blooms. The flowers are generally pink to reddish and are attractive to a variety of insect pollinators. After flowering and seed set, the parent rosette dies back, leaving offsets to continue the spread of the plant.

Care Tips:

• Light: Full sun promotes compact form and brings out the most intense foliage colours.
• Water: Water sparingly, allowing the substrate to dry completely between applications.
• Media: Gritty, sharply draining mix suitable for alpine and succulent plants.
• Fertiliser: Occasional feeding with a diluted, low-nitrogen fertiliser during active growth.
• Temperature: Hardy to frost and prolonged freezing when kept dry.
• Repotting: Minimal; divide and replant offsets or refresh substrate when clumps become crowded.