Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum spp.)

Hens and Chicks are charming, low-maintenance succulents known for their rosette-forming growth habit. The “hen” is the central plant, which produces multiple smaller “chicks” or offsets that cluster around the base. These hardy perennials come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and textures, adding year-round interest to rock gardens, containers, and sunny borders. Drought-tolerant and resilient, they thrive on neglect and are ideal for xeriscaping or poor soils. Some varieties produce tall flower stalks with star-shaped blooms in summer, after which the parent rosette dies, leaving the chicks to carry on.

Category

Sun Needs:

  • Full sun to light shade
  • Best color and growth in full sun

Bloom Time:

  • Mid to late summer (note: not all rosettes bloom every year)
  • Pink, red, or yellow star-shaped flowers on tall stalks
Size:

Height: 2 to 6 inches (foliage). Up to 12 inches when flowering.
Width: Spreads 6 to 12 inches or more via offsets

Attributes:
  • Evergreen succulent with rosette form
  • Drought-tolerant and cold-hardy
  • Minimal care required
  • Ideal for rock gardens, walls, containers, or green roofs
  • Excellent groundcover that fills in cracks and gaps
  • Deer and rabbit resistant
  • Great for xeriscaping and sandy or gravelly soils
Companion:
  • Sedum (Stonecrop)
  • Ice Plant (Delosperma)
  • Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
  • Rock Cress (Aubrieta)
  • Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)
  • Lavender (Lavandula)
  • Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
  • Dianthus (Pinks)
  • Coral Bells (Heuchera)
  • Yucca

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