Sempervivum tectorum var. arvernense, commonly known as Arvernense Houseleek or Arvernense Hen and Chicks, is a perennial succulent native to the mountainous regions of Europe, particularly the Alps and the Apennines. It thrives in alpine and subalpine zones, often found in rocky slopes, crevices, and stony ground, which mimic its preferred habitat of high-altitude, well-drained conditions. This variety typically forms low-growing rosettes reaching 0.3-0.5 feet (0.09-0.2 meters) in height and spreading 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters) wide. The rosettes are composed of fleshy, tightly packed leaves that are green with reddish-purple tips. Arvernense Houseleek blooms in the summer, producing pink, star-shaped flowers on tall stalks, although the flowers are not particularly showy compared to the foliage.

Arvernense Houseleek is valued for its drought tolerance and ability to thrive in poor soils, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens, green roofs, and as ground cover in xeriscaping. Its ability to propagate easily from offsets lends itself to low-maintenance cultivation and provides a quick cover, filling in spaces between rocks or paving stones. It is also popular in container gardens due to its compact size and interesting texture. For optimal growth, it requires full sun to part shade and well-drained soil, preferably sandy or loamy. While it is generally pest-free, root rot can occur in overly moist conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0