Houseleek

This architectural rock plant creates a winter cameo in containers or rock features, along with low evergreen carpetters or colourful plants such as Sedum spathulifolium. Although they look most outstanding in winter when there is little else of interest in the rock garden, sempervivums also look most impressive when in flower, in early and mid-summer, when a thick 30cm to 45cm (12in to 18in) tall conical spike of greenish pink flowers emerges from the centre of a mature group and persists for several weeks. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its Award of Garden Merit (AGM).