Sempervivum 'Red Nails'
Product details
| Management number | 250425372 | Release Date | 2026/09/17 | List Price | US$3.20 | Model Number | 250425372 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | |||||||||
- Description
- Sempervivum 'Red Nails' Care Guide
- FAQ/Common Issues
-
![]()
Sempervivum 'Red Nails' is a hardy hens and chicks succulent in the Crassulaceae family, native to the mountainous regions of Europe and Asia Minor. It evolved in rocky, well-drained terrain where drought and cold are constant companions, and grows well equally in garden beds, stone walls, or containers on a patio or balcony.
The plant forms tight, symmetrical rosettes with fleshy, pointed leaves that flush deep red to burgundy at the tips, giving it that distinctive "painted nail" look. Red Nails clusters outward by sending offsets in every direction, and the leaf surfaces have a subtle texture with a waxy coating that locks in moisture. The rosette structure has a geometric form, while the dense clustering habit allows this succulent to spread wider than single-headed varieties.
In summer, mature rosettes produce upright flower stalks with star-shaped blossoms in pink to rosy-red tones, with blooming triggered by a drop in night temperatures. After flowering, the mother rosette completes its life cycle while the surrounding offsets carry on the colony. You can leave it up to ten days without water.
Red Nails is a moderate grower that produces offsets steadily throughout the growing season, gradually filling gaps in rock gardens, alpine troughs, and green roofs. It handles balcony wind and rain with confidence, tolerates dry heated indoor air, and can move outside for summer without missing a beat. This frost-tolerant succulent is completely pet-friendly, safe for cats and dogs, and a single rosette can spread to fill a 12-inch area or more over a couple of seasons.
-
Sempervivum 'Red Nails' grows well in partial to full sun, requiring at least four to six hours of direct light daily.
Water it deeply but infrequently, roughly every 10 to 14 days, allowing soil to dry completely between waterings.
Red Nails does best in a gritty, fast-draining mix such as cactus soil blended with 30 to 50 percent perlite or coarse sand.
It tolerates a wide range from around 25°F up to 90°F, handling light frost with ease.
![]()
Red Nails is a moderate grower that rarely needs fertilizer, though a light, diluted balanced feed once in spring gives it a boost.
It is hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 8, tolerating winter temperatures as low as -40°F in the coldest zones. It grows outdoors year-round in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah, and higher elevations in Nevada. It also grows outdoors in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, with success possible in Zone 7 and 8 microclimates in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and parts of Georgia and Alabama where soil drains well.
-
Q: Is Sempervivum 'Red Nails' pet-friendly?
A: It is non-toxic and safe for cats and dogs.
Q: What window direction works best for indoor growing?
A: Sempervivum 'Red Nails' responds well to south or west-facing spots, which provide the strongest light; however, intense midday sun through glass can scorch the leaf tips indoors.
Q: How fast does Red Nails spread?
A: A single rosette can fill a 12-inch area or more over a couple of seasons as offsets develop steadily.
Q: Can this plant stay outdoors through winter?
A: Red Nails survives temperatures as low as -40°F and can remain outside through autumn and winter without protection in USDA Zones 3 through 8.
Q: How do you propagate Red Nails?
A: Gently detach the small offset "chicks" from the mother rosette and press them onto fresh, gritty soil; they root quickly on their own.
Q: What happens if the soil stays too wet?
A: Red Nails develops root rot and leaf collapse from excess moisture, so always ensure the soil dries completely between waterings.
Correction of product information
If you notice any omissions or errors in the product information on this page, please use the correction request form below.
Correction Request Form