Project Description
Sempervivum heuffelii ‘Irene'
“Job's Beard” or “Houseleek”
These evergreen monocarpic Sempervivums grow in beautiful, deep red clusters and have touches of green on the edges. Its thick leaves sustain it through long periods of drought.
They are also deer resistant, so planting them beside other prized plants can help deter them from being eaten.
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Quick Look:
Full sun to partial shade
Typical watering needs for a succulent. Be careful not to over-water!
Rosettes grow up to 4″ (10 cm)
Plant can grow to 3″ (7.5 cm) tall
Zone 4a (Minimum -30° F | -34° C)
Winter Hardy
Propagation by division
Generally considered non-toxic to humans and animals
Winter Dormant
Care and Propagation Information
General Care for Sempervivum heuffelii ‘Irene'
‘Irene' is a very easy succulent to care for, which makes it perfect for beginners. Once the roots are established, it is very forgiving if neglected, but be careful not to over-water!
Cold Hardy
Just like other Sempervivums, ‘Irene' is cold hardy and the leaves are evergreen. However, it won't lose its color, giving it character all year-round.
Flowering
‘Irene' is monocarpic, meaning that after it flowers, the mother plant will die. Before that happens, you can expect up to 40 yellowish-white flowers that bloom in the summer.
Don't let this discourage you from growing this amazing plant, though! It can take three to four years for a mature plant to bloom, and in that time, it will have put off many “chicks.”
Watering
Sempervivums are quite sensitive to over-watering, and ‘Irene' is no different. It's best to err on the side of caution (under-water) than “love” this plant a bit too much (over-water).
Planting
‘Irene’ does best when it receives full sun to partial shade. Plant in well-draining soil, either in the garden (where it will not receive too much water from rain or sprinklers) or in a container.
How to Propagate Sempervivum heuffelii ‘Irene'
‘Irene' is easily propagated, but is done a little differently than other Sempervivums.
Using a sterile knife or sharp pair of scissors, separate clumps to be propagated from main plant cluster. You'll want to get some of the roots with the stem if at all possible. This will help the plant root faster.
Allow cuttings to callous over for several days before replanting in either the ground or well-draining succulent soil.
Irene's Interesting History
Pairs Well With
Irene grows well with Sempervivum arachoideum ‘Sultan'
