Sempervivum “Sirius”- Vibrant Colors In A Small Package

With winter months striping our gardens off colors, succulents are a great way to bring them back. With their vivid colors and beautiful shape, succulents will bring back freshness to your outdoor nature heaven. If you’re on the hunt for a new member of your succulent family, search no more. Sempervivum “Sirius” is just right colorful miracle every succulent lover needs around the holidays. This succulent is also widely known as “Hen and Chicks”.

Sempervivum “Sirius”– Evergreen Beauty For Your Arrangements

“Sirius” is one of the most beautiful members of the Sempervivum family. With its vibrant colors, it will easily stand out in any arrangement, as well as alone in some interesting containers. This is also a perfect addition to vertical succulent walls, rockery, and topiaries. Sempervivum “Sirius” forms a large green rosette. Oval leaves have pointy tips turning fire red to even deep purple when the plant is exposed to direct sunlight.

The name “Hen and Chicks” comes from the way of growing out. This succulent`s large rosette is called the “hen” and it sprouts many smaller rosettes around it called “chicks”. With Sempervivum being a monocarpic succulent, as the plant age, the “hen” may die out. However, “chicks” are offsets that will easily replace the mother plant.

Sempervivum “Sirius” is a small, slow-growing succulent. The rosette can be up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall and up to 4 inches (10 cm) wide. When mature, this succulent will bloom with showy, star-shaped flowers in pink, red or occasionally yellow.

Grow and Care Tips

Sempervivum “Sirius” is easy succulent for newbie growers. You`ll get an eye-catching plant that almost thrives on neglect. Overall, this plant has pretty usual succulent needs.

The most important thing for a healthy and happy “Sirius” is a well-draining soil. This succulent loves rocky or gritty soil, so you can add some sand or other natural material to a standard soil mix. It will also grow well on wood or in rock piles. After  Sempervivum “Sirius” is properly rooted, it basically cares of itself.

When it comes to water, Sempervivum “Sirius” can withstand some dry periods. On the other hand, this succulent is sensitive to overwatering, so in doubt, better cut down the water. Like with most succulents, the “soak and dry” method can take you a long way.

This succulent is frost hardy. You can easily leave it outdoor during the coldest winter months, as it can withstand down to -20° F (-28.8° C). if temperatures go lower in your area, the better option may be to plant your Sempervivum “Sirius” in a container that you can move indoors.

The best place for Sempervivum “Sirius” in your garden is somewhere with direct sunlight during the day, but partial shade in the morning. When “happily stressed” this succulent will show of its beautiful colors.

Propagation

As we already mention, Sempervivum “Sirius” is propagated easily from offsets. When the “hen” dies after flowering, you can just remove it and fill up the hole with fresh soil mix. Offsets aka “chicks” will fill up every empty spot in a container pretty quickly.

If you choose to grow this succulent from the seeds, you`ll have to wait for the fruits. When Sempervivum “Sirius” blooms out forming fruits, collect them and let them dry out completely before crushing to get to the seeds. Just push those seeds in fresh soil and expect to see baby rosettes quite fast.

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