The houseleek (Sempervivum) bravely plants the most difficult locations. The succulent stone rose can cope with blazing sun, shimmering heat and bone-dry drought without any injuries. This raises the question of whether the legendary resilience continues in the shadows. Read the answer here.
Can a houseleek grow in the shade?
The houseleek (Sempervivum) prefers sunny locations and thrives less in shade. There it can grow misshapenly, not bloom, develop paler leaf colors and hardly produce any daughter rosettes. For best results, plant houseleeks in full sun to shady locations.
Does a houseleek also grow in the shade?
The houseleek (Sempervivum) has anaversion to shade Its origin leaves no doubt about the preferred lighting conditions of a stone rose. Sempervivum species predominantly thrive in the sun-drenched, hot mountain regions of Europe and Asia Minor. In fact, the succulent houseleek is the epitome of a sun worshiper. Planting in a shady location causes the thick-leaved plant to suffer from these growth problems:
- In the shade, the houseleek grows shapelessly upwards.
- Houseleeks do not bloom when there is a lack of light.
- The leaf colors fade in a shady location.
- In dark locations, Sempervivum forms no or stunted daughter rosettes.
Houseleek grows tall in the shade – what to do?
Lack of light at the location scares a sun-hungry houseleek. As a way out of the distress, the succulent grows upwards to find new sources of light. As long as not all parts of the plant are affected by the stretched growth, you can save themisshapen houseleek For this purpose, cut off he althy daughter rosettes. Plant the offshoots in a sunny location in sandy-gravelly soil. Place a houseleek in a pot in the sun.
Where does houseleek grow outside and inside?
Outside, the houseleek feels at home in the rock garden, on a roof and wall crown or in drywall joints. The stone rose presents itself decoratively in pots and unusual planters. The houseleek is also a welcome guest as a houseplant. These location conditions are the supporting pillars for he althy growth:
- Optimum outside:full sun to shaded location.
- Optimal indoors: on the south window sill, on the west window sill directly on the glass pane.
- Unsuitable: in full shade or shade, in the shadow of a wall.
Tip
Hauswurz is open to site experiments
The botanical name Sempervivum means “ever-living”. In fact, the houseleek grows undaunted under the most extreme conditions. Hobby gardeners who are keen to experiment know about this. Regardless of the pleas for a location in full sun, houseleeks demonstrate their floral vitality even in poorer lighting conditions. As a grave plant in partial shade or as a ground cover in the light shade of mighty deciduous trees, the houseleek is far from weak.
