Sempervivum arachnoideum 'Tiny Tots'

Sempervivum arachnoideum 'Tiny Tots' is a cultivated variety of the species Sempervivum arachnoideum, native to mountainous regions of central and southern Europe, including the Alps and Pyrenees. In its natural habitat, the species grows in rocky crevices and shallow soils with excellent drainage. This cultivar forms small, compact rosettes covered with fine white webbing between the leaf tips, a feature that helps protect the growing point from excess moisture and intense sunlight.

The rosettes are typically only a few centimetres wide, making them well suited to small containers, troughs, or detailed rock garden plantings. Leaves are green to reddish, with colours intensifying in cooler temperatures or under strong sun. Offsets are produced freely, forming tight clusters over time, and the webbing becomes more pronounced on younger rosettes.

Flowering occurs in summer, producing slender stems topped with clusters of star-shaped blooms in pink to reddish-purple. As with all Sempervivums, each rosette flowers once before dying, but surrounding offsets ensure the plant’s continuation. Its drought tolerance and cold hardiness reflect its adaptation to exposed alpine environments.

Care Tips:

• Light: Full sun encourages compact growth and stronger colouring; can tolerate partial sun.
• Water: Water sparingly; allow soil to dry between waterings. Slightly increase water during prolonged dry spells in summer.
• Humidity: Prefers low humidity with good airflow; excess moisture can damage the webbing.
• Media: Use a gritty, free-draining soil mix; avoid heavy or water-retentive soils.
• Temperature: Very cold hardy; tolerates frost and snow without damage.
• Fertiliser: Feed lightly in spring with a low-nitrogen fertiliser if required.
• Repotting: Divide and replant offsets every few years to prevent overcrowding and maintain vigour.