Cobweb Houseleek (Sempervivum arachnoideum): Spiderweb-Covered Hens & Chicks

Overview

Cobweb Houseleek (Sempervivum arachnoideum) is a charming, small rosette succulent whose leaves are connected by fine, white, cobweb-like hairs. The rosettes are green to reddish, 1–2 inches across, and produce numerous offsets ("chicks") on short stolons, forming dense mats. In summer, mature rosettes send up thick stalks topped with starry pink flowers. After flowering, the rosette dies, but the chicks carry on. Perfect for rock gardens, troughs, green roofs, and crevice gardens. Extremely cold hardy.

Key Features

• Rosettes: Small, tight; green to red; covered in fine white webbing.
• Offsets: Many, on short stolons; form dense colonies.
• Flowers: Pink, star-shaped, on 6–8 in stalks; summer.
• Lifecycle: Monocarpic rosettes; perennial colony.

Care Guidelines

Light

Full sun to part shade. Best color and webbing in sun.

Water

Low. Drought-tolerant. Avoid wet crowns in winter.

Soil

Gritty, extremely well-drained. Lean soil.

Hardiness

USDA zones 3–8. Very cold hardy.

Taxonomy

Family:	Crassulaceae
Genus:	Sempervivum (sem-per-VEE-vum)
Species:	arachnoideum (a-rak-NOY-dee-um)
Synonym:	Sempervivum sanguineum