The Balkan Peninsula, including the mountainous regions of Bulgaria are among the diversity centres of European houseleeks. The highest mountainous region of Bulgaria is the Rila Mountains which is built by Variscian serpentine rocks. Although there are more than 200 lakes of different sizes in the mountains, the most famous are those seven which gave the name to the Seven Rila Lakes National Park territory. At 2000–2100 m asl., I have found the first Jovibarba heuffelii colonies on open rock surfaces, going up on rock ridges. At about 2150 m asl., I found a gigantic colony of Jovibarba heuffelii, in the size of a ball, consist of more than 30 rosettes. The Jovibarba heuffelii colonies were accompanied by Sedum stefco. Next to the Twin and Trefoil Lakes, I saw different, solitaire houseleeks. Although I found no plant is flower, or larger colonies, based on the vegetative morphology they could have been identified as individuals of Sempervivum erythreum. Next to the Eye Lake, I found a houseleek-like taxon, Saxifraga sancta. At about 2550 m asl., the fog became heavy thus I stopped on my way to the Rila peaks.
