Plum Parfait Succulent

Plum Parfait Succulent (Sempervivum hybrid 'Plum Parfait') is a large, neat rosette succulent about 10cm high that spreads 10 to 30cm wide. Its lavender foliage turns plum purple in the cooler months, each pointed leaf finished with a darker burgundy tip. It is a cold hardy, drought tolerant little plant for rockeries, pots and any sunny spot with sharp drainage.

Why you'll love it

• Colour that builds with the cold. Lavender in the warmer months, then a deepening plum purple as the weather cools, with burgundy tips all the way through.
• Large, tidy rosettes. Each one is a neat pointed star, so even a single plant looks deliberate in a pot or a gravel pocket.
• Cold hardy and drought tolerant. Once established it takes frost and long dry spells in its stride, which suits exposed sites.
• It spreads by pups. Offsets grow around the base. Leave them to form a colony of groundcovering rosettes, or pot them on to share.
• Easy to look after. It wants sun, grit and a light hand with the watering can.

Where it works best

Rockeries and rock walls. Plant 20cm apart in gritty pockets and let the pups close the gaps. With a mature spread of 10 to 30cm, a handful of plants becomes a purple mat within a couple of seasons.

Pots, bowls and green roofs. Shallow containers of gritty mix suit it well, and a wide bowl lets the rosettes spread. It fits roof gardens where soil is thin and the wind dries everything out.

Waterwise gardens and bright rooms. It teams up with other low water plants in sunny beds. Indoors it can live on a bright windowsill, though the plum colour is richest outside in full sun.

Growing Plum Parfait Succulent in Australia

Position and climate. Plant in full sun for maximum leaf colour and root health. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens, and it is rock-solid cold hardy once established. Humid summers are its weak point, so on the subtropical coast choose a raised gritty bed or a pot out of the heaviest rain.

Soil. Free-draining, gritty soil is essential. In the garden, add coarse sand or fine gravel or build a low mound. In pots, use a cactus and succulent mix with extra grit.

Water and feed. Do not overwater. Let the soil dry between drinks, and during summer heatwaves water around the rosettes rather than into them. Feeding is not needed, and lean soil keeps the colour strong.

Pruning. No pruning. Gently pull away dead old leaves, then remove pups and pot them on, or leave them where they are to knit into a colony.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Plum Parfait Succulent as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Your plant may arrive blue-green or lavender rather than plum, and it develops the plum colour as it grows outside through the cooler months. Plant it into gritty soil and go easy on the water.

Our grower supplies the tube, and supply comes and goes. A sold out tube just means the grower has none right now: press the notify button on the page and we will email you the day it returns.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Succulents and cacti for Australian gardens
• Tough plants that handle frost
• Our complete succulent care guide
• Plants that suit balconies

Common questions

Why did my plant arrive green and not purple?

The plum colour develops outdoors. Young plants may arrive blue-green or lavender, and the purple builds as the plant grows in full sun and cooler weather.

Can I grow it indoors?

It will live on a very bright windowsill, but it is happiest outside. Indoors it tends to lose its compact shape and plum colour in low light.

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 20cm apart for a quick mat. The mature spread is 10 to 30cm, and the pups fill whatever space is left.