Sempervivum (houseleek) vs Echeveria
Side-by-side comparison: mature size, growth habit, colour, light, watering and hardiness.
Sempervivum and Echeveria form similar rosettes and are constantly confused, but only one survives snow. Sempervivum (houseleek) is a cold-hardy European alpine that overwinters outdoors to -30 °C, while Echeveria is a frost-tender Mexican rosette that must come indoors in winter. Care differs seasonally too: sempervivums grow through cool weather and shrug off rain, echeverias want sun, warmth and soak-and-dry watering.
| Feature | Sempervivum (houseleek) | Echeveria |
|---|---|---|
| Mature size | Rosettes 5–15 cm, cold-hardy mats | Rosettes 8–20 cm, frost-tender |
| Growth habit | Chicks ring the mother rosette; each rosette flowers once | Stemless or short-stemmed rosettes; offsets |
| Leaf colour | Green with purple-tipped fleshy leaves | Pastel blue/pink/purple with farina |
| Light needs | Full sun outdoors | Bright light with morning sun |
| Watering | Every 1–2 weeks in summer; dry in winter | Soak-and-dry every 10–14 days |
| Hardiness | USDA 3–8; survives -30 °C | USDA 9b–11; protect below 2 °C |
Sempervivum (houseleek) profile →
Full identification, care and common problems.
Echeveria profile →
Full identification, care and common problems.