Echeveria, Aeonium and houseleek: how to tell them apart and grow them

Daniel Platteau Succulent plant

Imagine a trio of prima ballerinas, each with her own choreography under the sun. Echeveria, Aeonium and the houseleek (Sempervivum) are three succulents that, despite their family resemblance, have very distinct personalities. Their rosettes, colours and needs tell different stories, from the mountains of Mexico, the Canary Islands or the Alps. If you still mix them up when choosing them for your garden or your home, here is how to tell them apart and pamper them as they deserve.

Echeveria: the compact, colourful rosette

Echeveria is an artist of form. Its fleshy leaves, arranged in a tight rosette, evoke a miniature lotus flower. Native to the arid, mountainous regions of Mexico and Central America, it has developed a drought resistance that shows in its hues: from pale green to blue-grey, through shades of pink, violet or even coppery red in generous sun. Some species, such as Echeveria pulvinata, are covered in fine down, while Echeveria agavoides looks like a starfish with its pointed leaves.

The telltale detail: its leaves are thick, often dusted with a waxy bloom and sometimes edged with red or purple. Most Echeveria stay squat, like a little cabbage sculpted by the wind, although a few species (including E. pulvinata) form short stems with age.

Aeonium: the diva on slender stems

If Echeveria is a ballerina, Aeonium is a classical dancer, elegant and a little theatrical. Native mainly to the Canary Islands, but also to Madeira, Cape Verde and North Africa, this succulent likes mild climates. An important quirk: it grows during the cool season (autumn to spring) and goes dormant in summer, when it is hot and dry. Its rosettes — green, almost-black purple or variegated with yellow — sit atop more or less branched stems, like miniature candelabras. Some species, such as Aeonium arboreum, can reach 1 metre tall in the ground, while others, such as Aeonium haworthii, stay modest and bushy.

The telltale detail: its leaves are thinner and less fleshy than those of Echeveria, and its rosettes form at the end of clearly visible stems. In late winter or spring, mature rosettes produce large clusters of small, starry yellow flowers (white or pink in some species). Beware: a rosette that has flowered then dies, which is fatal for single-stemmed species.

Houseleek: the hardy mountain dweller

The houseleek (Sempervivum), also known as hens and chicks, is the toughest of the trio, a survivor from the mountains of Europe (Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians) and the Caucasus. Its rosettes, green, reddish or purple, are made of thick, pointed leaves. Unlike the other two, it sends out stolons (short stems ending in a small rosette) that let it colonise its surroundings, like a small army of clones. Some species, such as Sempervivum arachnoideum, are even covered in fine white threads, like a cobweb.

The telltale detail: the houseleek is the only one of the three to withstand hard frost, down to −20 °C and beyond, as long as its roots are not sitting in water. Each rosette flowers only once before dying… but the clump lives on through the many offsets around it.

Light, water and soil: the secrets of perfect growth

A trio that loves the sun… but not in the same way

All three succulents love light, but their needs differ.

Echeveria is the hungriest: it needs maximum sunshine (at least 6 hours of direct sun a day) to reveal its most intense colours. Indoors, place it near a south-facing window or under a grow light. Without enough light, it stretches and loses its compact shape: this is called etiolation.
Aeonium prefers filtered light in high summer, especially in hot climates where the midday sun can scorch its leaves. During its growing season (autumn to spring), it likes as much light as possible so it does not stretch. Indoors, an east- or west-facing window suits it well.
The houseleek thrives in full sun, where its colours are brightest. It tolerates partial shade, but its rosettes then become greener and looser.

The art of watering: less, but better

The catch with succulents? Their reputation as indestructible plants hides a more nuanced truth: they die more often from too much water than from drought.

Echeveria needs a very free-draining mix (cactus compost, perlite and coarse sand) and sparing watering. Let the mix dry out completely between waterings. It grows mainly from spring to autumn: in summer, watering every 10 to 15 days is enough; in winter, almost nothing.
Aeonium follows the opposite rhythm: it is in autumn, winter (above 5 to 10 °C) and spring that it grows and should be watered moderately, always once the mix is dry. In summer, while dormant, its rosettes close up and it needs very little water.
The houseleek in the ground generally gets by with rainfall. In a pot, watering every 2 to 3 weeks in summer is enough, and almost nothing in winter. Its secret? Its thick leaves store water like reservoirs.

The pros' tip: to test how moist the mix is, push your finger 2 cm deep. If the soil is dry, it is time to water. If not, wait a few more days.

Soil: a mix that breathes

The ideal mix for these three stars should be porous, airy and low in organic matter.

For Echeveria and Aeonium: mix 50% cactus compost, 30% perlite or pumice and 20% coarse sand (such as river sand). Avoid rich composts, which hold moisture and encourage rot.
For the houseleek: choose an even more mineral mix, with 60% sand or fine gravel and 40% light compost. Sempervivum love stony soils, like those of alpine screes.

Tip: add a thin layer of gravel or pumice on the surface to stop water sitting around the base of the plants.

Propagation: the joy of building a collection

Echeveria: leaf or rosette cuttings

Echeveria is easy to propagate from leaf or rosette cuttings. For leaves, gently detach one with a rocking motion, let it dry in the open air for 2 to 3 days (to avoid rot), then lay it on barely moist mix without pushing it in. Roots and a new rosette appear within a few weeks. For rosettes, cut them with a piece of stem and let the cut dry before replanting.

Aeonium: stem cuttings or offsets

Aeonium is propagated by stem cuttings or offsets. Cut a rosette with a few centimetres of stem, let it dry for 3 to 4 days, then plant it in a sandy mix, ideally at the start of its growing season (late summer or autumn). Offsets can be detached and replanted directly.

Houseleek: the queen of division

The houseleek is the easiest to propagate: simply detach an offset (with its stolon) and replant it. It roots within a few weeks with no further care.

Where to put them? In pots or in the ground?

In pots: the choice of mobility

All three succulents thrive in pots, as long as drainage is right. Choose containers with holes, and empty the saucers after watering. Terracotta pots, which let the roots breathe, are perfect for Echeveria and Aeonium. The houseleek spends the winter outdoors in a pot without difficulty: frost does not worry it, standing water does. Raise the pot on feet so that it drains well.

In the ground: a challenge… but not impossible

Echeveria and Aeonium do not tolerate frost (at best a few degrees below zero, briefly and in dry conditions). In the ground, they are only an option in Mediterranean or very mild oceanic climates. Elsewhere, grow them in pots and bring them indoors before the frosts, into a bright room.
The houseleek is a star of alpine gardens, rock gardens, low walls and green roofs. It withstands frost and enjoys poor, stony soils. Sempervivum tectorum used to be planted on roofs, where it was believed to ward off lightning: its name means "ever-living of the roofs" (semper vivum, ever living; tectorum, of roofs).

Enemies to watch out for

Even the toughest have their weaknesses. Here are the main dangers:

Rot: caused by too much water or a compacted mix, it shows as soft, translucent or black leaves. Solution: stop watering immediately, remove the affected parts and repot in fresh, free-draining mix.
Mealybugs: these small, white, cottony insects like to nestle in the rosettes, especially indoors. Solution: wipe them off with cotton wool soaked in 70% alcohol, or use an insecticidal soap.
Slugs, snails and birds: outdoors, they readily attack young rosettes. Solution: check after rain and protect young plants.
Scorching sun: in summer, Aeonium leaves can look cooked if exposed at midday. Solution: lightly shade the plants during the hottest hours.

A trio to collect without moderation

Whether you are drawn to the compact rosettes of Echeveria, the graphic elegance of Aeonium or the hardiness of the houseleek, these three succulents offer a diversity of shapes, colours and textures that will delight any enthusiast. They need little effort but a little attention: like divas, they need to be understood to truly flourish.

So, ready to create your own plant ballet? Observe their silhouettes, respect their rhythm (Aeonium runs on the opposite season!) and let their resilience guide you. With a little patience, you will create a miniature garden where these three stars shine bright.

Further reading:

Plants of the World Online (Kew Gardens): botanical entries for the genera Echeveria, Aeonium and Sempervivum
Cactus and Succulent Society of America
Tela Botanica – eFlore: houseleeks of the French flora (in French)

An article by Daniel Platteau, for demanding and passionate gardeners.