Sempervivum heuffelii 'Chocoleto' [exclusive]

Highlights

Sempervivum heuffelii 'Chocoleto' (Ford): A sweet mix of pink to lavender with jade green accents. It is highlighted by a white outline of cilia along its leaves. The rosette turns an even brighter purple in winter.

S. heuffelii are super frost hardy and drought tolerant. They thrive outdoors year-round and hold vibrant colors through the seasons. To produce vegetative offsets, a mother plant will divide and develop into a neat cluster of new rosettes. These rosettes can be cut apart and transplanted (How to Propagate Heuffelii) or left to cluster. After several years, a rosette will bloom and die but its offsets will live on.

Plant S. heuffelii outdoors in sunny locations with great drainage. Water in the spring through summer growing season if the soil is completely dry and protect from heavy rains and standing water, especially in winter. These hardy plants thrive through winter well under an insulating blanket of snow.

Full Sempervivum heuffelii Guide

Product Size

2.0" Pot

Current Primary Color

Purple / Black

All Seasonal Colors

Green

Bloom Color

Yellow Bloom

Grow Zone (Hardiness)

Zone 4 (-30F), Zone 5 (-20F), Zone 6 (-10F), Zone 7 (0F), Zone 8 (10F), Zone 9 (20F), Zone 10 (30F)

Recommended Light Conditions

Filtered / Partial Sun, Full Sun

Maximum Height

Under 3"

Maximum Rosette Size

3"-4"

Growth Habit / Shape

Rosette

Seasonality

Year-round Color

Special Characteristic

Hard to Kill, Pet Safe

THIS PLANT IS HARDY IN ZONES 4 - 10

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

WHAT IS MY HARDINESS ZONE?

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Popular Questions

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1 year ago

What size pot should I plant my succulents in after they come? See answer

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1 year ago  •  Staff Answer

If you want to pot them individually, a 3"-4" diameter pot is ideal. But you can also plant groups of Sempervivum together in wider pots. Aim for pots that are 5" or shallower, so that they don't hold too much water. See full answer »

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3 years ago

Should hens and chick's be planted a little above the soil, so they don't rot? See answer

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

That depends on what you mean by "a little above the soil".

You want to make sure the root ball is completely covered by soil. If the lowermost leaves of the rosette get some dirt on them, it's not the end of the world. As long as you don't over water, they should be fine. See full answer »

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3 years ago

once they bloom, do i cut off the blooms once they turn brown? See answer

once they bloom, do i cut off the blooms once they turn brown? See more »

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

Hello there!

You're going to be better off pulling the whole dead rosette out by the base. That will give room to the remaining chicks to fill that hole with their own chicks. See full answer »

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3 years ago

Can a fast draining, gritty, alkaline travertine soil, with a pH is 7.9-8.1, full sun support Sempervivums? See answer

Will other Semperivums beside S. calcareum grow in such alkaline soil? See more »

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

The fast draining, gritty soil is a good start! My only concerns are for your soil pH and sun exposure.

Sempervivum can grow in full sun, but they need to be acclimated to it first. Give them a few hours of exposure to the direct sun, then move them into shade for the rest of the day. Repeat this process, steadily adding or removing an hour or so as needed, until the plants can take the direct sunlight all day.

Soil pH is a different matter. The soil in the crevasses where Sempervivum grow in the wild are very acidic, even down to 4.5. Even S. calcareum, despite their alkaline tolerance, was found to grow in acidic soil. The point being that a slightly acidic soil is far better than an alkaline one for any Sempervivum. However, these plants are tough and a little alkalinity certainly won't kill them. They'll just grow faster and stay healthier in a slightly acidic soil. See full answer »

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3 years ago

Will Javelina eat them or dig them up? See answer

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

Hello there!

Sempervivum are very hardy plants. They contain small packets of bad tasting chemicals, that deter deer and rabbits from nibbling on them. However, I do not believe this works on javelina.

We do not have Javelina this far north but, from what I read, they will eat anything. This includes Sempervivum.

I believe your best course of action is to invest in an electric fence, as you can't shoot them until a certain season.

You could also consider cactus or Euphorbia, which they won't eat due to the spines and poison. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful but… See full answer »

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3 years ago

Do Sempervivums do well indoors in containers? Or are they ideal for outdoors only? See answer

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

They are ideal for the outdoors. You can get them to survive indoors near a sunny, south-facing window or under a strong grow light, but even then they'll often languish and stretch. Sempervivum are happiest and healthiest when they get lots of sunshine, gritty soil, great airflow, and cold nights and winters. If you want that Sempervivum look, but indoors, I would recommend Echeveria or Aeonium. Theyhave a rosette shape, but handle sunny, indoor growing better.

I hope this helps! See full answer »

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3 years ago

what is the main difference between echeverias & sempervivums See answer

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

The main difference, from a care standpoint, is hardiness. Sempervivum can survive temperatures to -20°F or even -30°F. Meanwhile, Echeveria shouldn't even freeze.

From a taxonomic standpoint, the main difference is that they're in different genera, although they belong to the same family. This is quite significant and means that these plants, although they look similar, are not the same. Sempervivum rosettes, for instance, die after they flower while Echeveria do not. Semepervivum blooms have petals that spread wide like a daisy's petals, while Echeveria have petals that form a tube. Sempervivum are native to Europe and the Mediterranean, while Echeveria are native to central America.

However, they do share one thing in common. They're both charming rosette plants that are adored the world over. Click the link below to watch a video that explains the differences further… See full answer »

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3 years ago

What can cause the plant to get soft and wither on one side See answer

Plant condition See more »

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

Good question, but I have some bad news. This sounds like the symptoms of root rot caused by overwatering. You may just be watering too often, but it could also be that the soil you're using retains too much of its water.

Regardless, the first step you should take is allowing the soil to dry completely. I'm going to post a link here that will take you to our FAQ section that deals with rot more thoroughly. I hope this helps and I hope your plant recovers!
Source: https://mountaincrestgardens.com/faqs... See full answer »

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3 years ago

How long will it take for 5 plants to fill a 12” pot in zone 7? See answer

Torrid zone See more »

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

That depends on many different factors.

How much sunlight are they getting?
How much will you water them?
What's their soil like? Does it drain water well or does it tend to absorb water?
Are you fertilizing them? If so, how often and with what nutrients?

The answer to these questions and more will determine how fast your plants grow. See full answer »

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3 years ago

As far as the Sempervivum heuffelii go, can they withstand the heat of Phoenix summers if kept under a shade cloth? See answer

Looking to see if these can survive weather as outside plants in hot Phoenix, if provided with shade cloth to give reprieve from the afternoon sun. See more »

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

The intense heat of Arizona is a challenge for Sempervivum, but people do manage tp grow them there. Shade cloth is an excellent idea. You'll still want to plant in well-draining soil, but you'll need to water more regularly to help them tolerate the heat. You can find more advice from people who've grown seemps and S. heuffelii in Arizona and similar climates in the forum linked below.
Source: https://garden.org/forums/view/chooks/ See full answer »

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