An evergreen creeping succulent, perfect for pots and containers. Reputedly grown to ward off malign spirits, the gel from the leaves can be used for stings, burns and insect bites. 9x9cm pot (8cm depth)
Description
- Good for pots and containers
- Good for rockeries
- Doesn’t need much watering
- Can be grown in walls
There are around 30 species of this little succulent and they get their common name from parts of Europe where they are grown on the roofs of houses. They also have the name ‘hen and chicks’ due to the initial rosette, which produces little offsets around itself and in this way spreads.
Plant Care
- Height: Creeping
- Type: Hardy
- Aspect: Sun
- Soil: Any/alkaline
- Flower colour: White
- Flowering period: June - July
These little succulents do not like too much wetness as they store water in their leaves and are best grown in shallow containers, on the top of walls, rock gardens - in fact anywhere that is very well drained, especially over winter. They will reward you by gradually multiplying to form a carpet - they in fact can be used in this way to make living walls and sculptures. Each individual floret flowers at some point in its life and then dies, but by then there are usually many more plantlets waiting in the wings to take its place.
Usage
The hardy houseleek was a widely used medicinal herb planted around the home. Traditionally, the fresh leaves were either sliced or juiced and used as a poultice to cool skin inflammation, remove warts, heal burns and eye infections. Modern research has found antimicrobial activity useful for relieving ear infections. The fresh leaves and young shoots can be a cooling addition to salads.