Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Rolling Houseleek (Jovibarba globifera)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Rolling Houseleek, Hen and Chickens Houseleek, Rollers.

More about rolling houseleek

About Rolling Houseleek

Jovibarba globifera · also called Rolling Houseleek, Hen and Chickens Houseleek · flowering

Jovibarba globifera is a fascinating succulent native to rocky alpine and subalpine habitats across central Europe, best known for producing small, globe-shaped offset rosettes ('globi') that detach from the mother plant at the slightest touch and roll away to colonise new ground — the origin of its common name. Rosettes are flattened-globose, light green often with a red apical blotch, growing to about 3 cm across. It requires full sun and free-draining gritty soil, and is completely cold-hardy. Jovibarba is not individually listed by the ASPCA; treat as mildly-toxic until a direct species-level ASPCA confirmation is available.

Cold limit: USDA 4-9 · RHS H7 (-34°C to 35°C)

Watch for — Crown rot after winter wet: Despite excellent cold hardiness, persistently waterlogged soil in winter causes root and crown rot. Always grow in sharply drained compost; raise containers on pot feet and add a top-dressing of grit to divert water away from the rosette collar.

What rolling houseleek's hardiness rating actually means

Yes — rolling houseleek is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 4-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H7 means: Hardy in the severest European continental winters. On the US scale that maps to USDA 4-9 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Rolling Houseleek is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for rolling houseleek as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can rolling houseleek go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 4-9 and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when rolling houseleek can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H7 figure above.

Rolling Houseleek hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is rolling houseleek cold hardy?

Yes — rolling houseleek is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 4-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Rolling Houseleek is hardy across USDA 4-9; it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature rolling houseleek can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Rolling Houseleek is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is rolling houseleek?

Rolling Houseleek is rated USDA 4-9 and RHS H7 — Hardy in the severest European continental winters.

Can rolling houseleek survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 4-9 and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

What happens to rolling houseleek below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established. Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root. First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.