Alex,
I wonder how the workhorse delo's I grow for my planters would hold up in your environment. There's actually a decent variety in the category, one I have has 2-3" long leaves, another gets a particularly nice red blush and all of them have vibrant blooms. Unfortunately the delo seedling I raised died last winter after surviving two winters before, so evidently some of them are hardier than others because my three nameless varieties don't mind harsh winters at all. I bought one called "wheel of fire" (I think) as a present for my mom who really enjoys moss roses which have a similar appearance but tend to grow as annuals, as I recall it's done well in her garden, so maybe that'd be one for you to try. It has very attractive colorless new growth that appears almost as a seasonal variegation, as well as gorgeous fire red flowers.
Alex,
I was in california just last weekend and I must admit to some serious succulent envy for your climate! The thought of being able to grow big aeoniums and 5' tall agaves right in the front yard nearly makes me want to move. Then I remember how hot it gets down there and I have to think twice! It's an exciting time for sempervivum right now, we're all out here in Oregon trying so hard to cross and breed towards succulents we perceive to be large, meanwhile you're wading through great forests of succulent trees! Maybe someday we'll get there, but I think nature's taken us far enough in the opposite direction it'll take some time before we'll be able to produce plants like the ones you're used to. It's clear that cold weather seems easier for the smaller succulents to handle, my suspicion is that with less water mass there is less expansion during freeze-thaws of winter and less ability to drink all that excessive moisture we get during the rainy seasons, hence the uphill battle to produce larger cold hardy plants. Just my thoughts. Goodluck with your crosses!
-Sol
