Houseleek – Pink: A Timeless Beauty
Pink houseleek is a hardy little succulent that deserves a place in every plant lover's home. Its tight rosettes of fleshy, pointed leaves take on a soft rose-pink blush, strongest in full sun and cool weather, and named forms such as 'Pink Lemonade' and 'Rosie' are grown for precisely this colouring. Sempervivum means 'always alive', and the plant has thrived on cottage roofs, dry-stone walls and rockeries across Britain for centuries. Pink houseleek suits both modern and traditional settings and looks lovely in a terracotta bowl, a trough or a gravel bed.
Foliage First, Flowers in Summer
A houseleek is grown for its rosettes rather than its blooms. In summer a mature rosette may send up a stout stem crowned with star-shaped pink flowers; that rosette then dies, but the offsets around it carry on, so the plant simply keeps spreading. It has no scent, which makes it a good choice for anyone who finds floral perfume overwhelming.
How to Care for Your Houseleek
This is a plant that almost looks after itself. Give it a bright, sunny position, gritty free-draining compost and water only sparingly; too much water is the one thing that harms it. It happily stands outdoors all year, through frost, wind and rain. Pink houseleek is regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs, so it can safely sit where pets roam.
A Gift That Keeps Growing
Unlike a bouquet, pink houseleek is a gift that lasts for years and slowly multiplies. It's perfect for a housewarming, a gardener's birthday or a small surprise for someone who prefers plants to flowers. Send pink houseleek and show that you care, with no effort required from the recipient.
