Sempervivum calcareum, commonly known as Old Man and Woman, is an evergreen succulent native to the mountainous regions of the Alps in southern Europe, particularly in France and Italy. It typically grows to a height of 0.3-0.5 feet (0.09-0.2 meters) and a width of 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters). This plant forms dense rosettes of fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves that are green with reddish-purple tips, which can add a splash of color to rock gardens and succulent collections. The flowers, which are less commonly seen, emerge on stalks above the foliage and can be green, pink, purple, or white, blooming mainly in the summer months.

Sempervivum calcareum is valued for its low maintenance, drought tolerance, and ability to thrive in poor soils, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens, alpine troughs, and green roofs. It prefers full sun but can tolerate part shade, and it requires very little water once established, making it ideal for xeriscaping. This succulent is also appreciated for its winter hardiness and is often used in cold climate gardens where other succulents may not survive. The cultivars ’Extra’, ’Guillaumes’, and ’Sir William Lawrence’ have been recognized with the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for their outstanding qualities. While Sempervivum calcareum is generally pest-free, it can occasionally suffer from root rot if overwatered or planted in poorly draining soils.CC BY-SA 4.0