# Houseleek (*Sempervivum tectorum*) Houseleek is a fun and colorful plant that grows in many gardens. It has thick, juicy leaves that can store water, helping it survive in dry places. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions - **Also known as:** Hens and Chicks ![Houseleek](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Matafoc_flor_8_agost06_050.jpg&width=800) Photo: Victor M. Vicente Selvas, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Matafoc_flor_8_agost06_050.jpg) ## Appearance The Houseleek is a succulent plant featuring thick, fleshy leaves arranged in a tight rosette. Its leaves are typically green, often tipped with reds or purples, and sometimes appear fuzzy. It visually differs with its distinct "hen and chicks" growth pattern, where smaller rosettes sprout around the main plant. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Saxifragales - **Family:** Crassulaceae - **Genus:** Sempervivum ## Interesting facts - After its main rosette flowers, it dies, but leaves behind many living 'chicks'! - Ancient Romans planted houseleek on roofs to protect houses from lightning strikes! - Each flowering houseleek stalk can have a whopping 16 petals on its star-shaped bloom! - The scientific name, Sempervivum, means 'always living' because it's so tough! ## Special abilities - **Water Hoarders:** Houseleek has 'Water Hoarders' ability, storing water in its fleshy leaves to survive long dry spells where other plants wilt. - **Frost Armor:** With 'Frost Armor,' Houseleek can survive freezing temperatures, thanks to special compounds in its cells preventing ice damage. - **Root Grips:** Its 'Root Grips' allow Houseleek to anchor itself firmly in tiny rock crevices and shallow soils, thriving where few plants can. - **Mini-Me Maker:** The 'Mini-Me Maker' ability allows Houseleek to produce small daughter rosettes, ensuring new plants grow easily nearby. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-15 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Attracts these bees with its nectar-rich flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Snails munch on its fleshy leaves, especially young ones. - **Parasitizes:** Longtailed mealybug (*Pseudococcus longispinus*) — These tiny bugs can sometimes feed on Houseleek sap. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Houseleek is safe to touch, but don't eat it! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Houseleek? Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Houseleek? 5-15 cm ### How wide does Houseleek spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Houseleek? 1-2 cm ### When does Houseleek bloom? Summer ### Is Houseleek edible? No ### Is Houseleek toxic? None ### What is Houseleek's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Houseleek: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/houseleek)