Sempervivum 'Kalinda'

Sempervivum 'Kalinda': Rosettes with a Ruby Glow

Glowing with rich, jewel-toned colour, Sempervivum 'Kalinda' forms tight, symmetrical rosettes that shift from dusky green to deep ruby-red as the seasons cool. Each fleshy leaf is tipped in crimson, giving the plant a floral-like structure that holds its shape and intensity through heat, cold, and drought. Slowly offsetting into tidy clusters, this hardy hens-and-chicks variety adds sculptural appeal and vivid contrast to troughs, rock gardens, and sunny dry borders.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 5–10 cm (rosettes), up to 20 cm in bloom
• Spread: 15–25 cm, slowly offsetting
• Flower Colour: Soft pink (on mature rosettes)
• Flowering Period: Midsummer
• Foliage: Green with ruby-red tips; intensified colour in cool seasons
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Very well-drained, sandy or rocky soil

Uses and Benefits: Sempervivum 'Kalinda' excels in alpine gardens, gravel paths, crevice plantings, and shallow containers where its detailed rosettes and colour shifts can be admired up close. Extremely low maintenance, it performs beautifully in dry, lean soils and needs minimal water once established. Use it to add permanent form, texture, and colour to xeric designs and rock-based compositions.

Companion Plants: For a sunny, drought-tolerant combination, pair 'Kalinda' with Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun', whose fiery red-and-yellow blooms echo the sedum’s warm tones. Add Leucanthemum 'Snow Cap' to brighten the mix with crisp white daisies and compact habit. Finish with Bouteloua gracilis, the graceful, dancing seed heads of blue grama grass, for texture and movement that complement the sempervivum’s stillness.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun with excellent drainage. Avoid excessive moisture—sempervivums thrive in dry, nutrient-poor soils. Remove dead leaves and spent flower stalks to keep clumps tidy. Propagate by gently separating offsets in spring or early summer.

History: A standout cultivar within the Sempervivum group, 'Kalinda' was bred for its intense red colouration and refined, uniform shape. Like its alpine ancestors from Europe, it is prized for toughness, cold hardiness, and ornamental appeal in the smallest spaces.

Final Thoughts: With gem-like colour and architectural grace, Sempervivum 'Kalinda' anchors dry garden designs with lasting form—an elegant, unfussy choice for gardeners who appreciate structure and seasonal shifts.