Dwarf Irises bloom at the same time as mid-season tulips and late narcissus. They rival bearded Irises in their color range, but grow only a few inches tall. Their cultural requirements are the same as the taller irises, they only require full sunlight and good drainage to thrive.

They spread very rapidly, and can be divided six weeks after blooming. Each individual rhizome will make a new plant, and should be planted with the top half of the rhizome above ground; dig little trenches on either side for the roots.

Sempervivums are attractive all year but are especially wonderful in winter. Their colors are brightest in cold weather and they look like living jewels peeking through the melting snow. Usually referred to as hens and chicks, the Latin name refers to their evergreen character.

The only demand semps have for successful cultivation is sufficient sunlight. If you grow them in the open garden as I do, this means frequent weeding and the removal of fall leaves that might shade the plants.
Semps grow naturally on rocky mountain tops and do best in poor soil with good drainage. Individual rosettes die after blooming, but the offsets quickly fill in the vacancy.
Flowers range in shades of pink through white, and rarely yellow.
If you live in a frost-free area, you may want to explore related plants such as Echiveria instead. These beautiful plants make great house plants in northern areas as long as their need for lots of light is met.