Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks)

Why Should I Grow Hens and Chicks?

There are several reasons you might want to consider growing these plants in your garden or home:

• Easy to care for: Sempervivum plants are quite hardy and require little care. They can tolerate a range of conditions, including poor soil and drought, making them a great choice for beginners or those with less time for plant care.
• Drought Tolerant: Being succulents, they store water in their leaves, which makes them extremely drought-tolerant. This makes them a great option for dry climates, xeriscaping, or for those who don’t want to worry about frequent watering.
• Variety: There are many different varieties of hens and chicks, each with its own unique appearance. This can include different colors, shapes, and sizes, providing visual interest in your garden or home.
• Propagation: Hens and chicks are known for their ability to produce many “chicks” or offspring, which can be easily separated and planted elsewhere. This makes it easy to propagate and spread these plants around your garden or share them with friends.
• Year-round Interest: These plants remain attractive throughout all four seasons, including winter. While some plants lose their leaves or die back during the cold months, hens and chicks maintain their rosette form and can provide winter interest.
• Container and Rock Gardens: Their compact size and low-growing habit make them an excellent choice for container gardening or rock gardens.
• Low Maintenance: They don’t require pruning or much feeding and are relatively disease and pest resistant.
• Attract Pollinators: When sempervivum bloom, they can attract bees and other pollinators, which can be beneficial to the rest of your garden.

Hens and chicks could be a great choice if you’re looking for a versatile, visually interesting, and low-maintenance plant!

Popular Sempervivum Varieties

Sempervivum are popular succulent plants well-loved by gardeners for their low-maintenance care requirements and interesting appearances. Here are some popular varieties:

• Sempervivum ‘Black’: This variety is famous for its nearly black leaves, which give the plant a dramatic, unusual appearance.
• Sempervivum ‘Pacific Devil’s Food’: This variety has dark burgundy leaves, creating a rich, contrasting look in the garden.
• Sempervivum ‘Ruby Heart’: The “Ruby Heart” variety stands out with its green leaves and vibrant, ruby red centers.
• Sempervivum ‘Oddity’: This variety has unusually shaped leaves that are tube-like, which makes for a fascinating visual effect.
• Sempervivum ‘Cobweb’: This is a very distinctive variety that has tiny, cobweb-like white hairs across the rosettes.
• Sempervivum arachnoideum: Also known as cobweb houseleek, this variety has rosettes covered in a fine, white, web-like substance.
• Sempervivum ‘Silverine’: Silverine has beautiful pink and silver tones and produces charming pink flowers.
• Sempervivum calcareum: This variety, also known as the “lime houseleek,” has a beautiful rosette shape with blue-green leaves and burgundy tips.
• Sempervivum tectorum: The “common houseleek” has large rosettes of green leaves, often tipped with red, and is known for its medicinal properties.
• Sempervivum ‘Bronco’: Known for its purple-brown leaves that are topped with a rosette of shorter, apple-green leaves.

Each of these varieties has its own unique coloration, growth habit, and flower color, which makes sempervivum a diverse and interesting group of plants.

Garden Design with Hens and Chicks

Designing a garden with hens and chicks can be a fun and creative process due to their varied colors, shapes, and textures. Here are a few ideas:

Rock Gardens: Sempervivum plants thrive in the conditions that are typical in a rock garden: good drainage and a lean soil. They look natural nestled amongst the rocks, and the contrast in texture between the rocks and the plants can be very visually appealing.

Container Gardens: Sempervivum do well in containers. Try mixing different varieties in the same container for a multi-colored, multi-textured effect. You can use regular plant pots, but also consider unusual containers like vintage metal boxes, old boots, or even broken terracotta pots for a whimsical look.

Ground Cover: If you have a sunny, well-drained area that you’d like to cover, consider using sempervivum. They’ll form a mat that suppresses weeds and is visually pleasing.

Vertical Gardens: Sempervivum can be used in vertical plantings, such as green walls or picture frames, thanks to their shallow root system. This can create a stunning visual effect.

Mixed Borders: While sempervivum can stand on their own, they can also play well with others. Consider pairing them with other succulents, drought-tolerant plants, or alpine plants for a varied, layered effect.

Fairy Gardens: Due to their small size, hens and chicks are perfect for miniature or fairy gardens.

Path Edging: Use sempervivum to line the edges of a path in your garden. It will be low enough to not obstruct the path but provide a nice contrast.

Roof Gardens: Sempervivum is often used in green roofing. This European tradition is making its way across the world due to its environmental benefits and aesthetic appeal.

Sempervivum Companion Plants

Here are some plants that make good companions for Sempervivum due to similar light, soil, and water requirements:

• Sedum: Often called “stonecrop,” Sedum is a succulent that comes in many varieties, some of which form low mats and others which are taller. They are drought-tolerant, love sun, and their variety of shapes and colors can complement the Sempervivum.
• Echeveria: These rosette-forming succulents have similar growing needs as Sempervivum but can add a different texture or color to the garden.
• Agave: Some smaller agaves can be a good match for Sempervivum in a succulent garden. Their distinctive, rosette shape and sharp lines can provide a nice contrast.
• Graptopetalum: Also known as “ghost plant,” these succulents offer contrasting color and form that can pair nicely with Sempervivum.
• Lavender: Lavender is a drought-tolerant plant that prefers full sun and well-drained soil, much like Sempervivum. Plus, their purple flowers can add a pop of color to your garden.
• Thyme: Particularly creeping thyme varieties are good companions, as they can fill in gaps between the rosettes and add a nice aroma.
• Portulaca: Also known as Moss Rose, this plant loves sun, handles drought well, and its colorful flowers add extra interest to the garden.
• Rock Garden plants: Many alpine and rock garden plants can work well with Sempervivum, such as phlox, armeria, and saxifrage.

Remember, the most important thing is to pair Sempervivum with plants that have similar water and light needs to ensure they all thrive together. Overwatering is the main risk to Sempervivum, so any companion plants should be equally drought-tolerant.

Growing Tips

Growing Hens and Chicks is generally straightforward, as they are hardy and low-maintenance plants. Here are some steps you can follow:

• Selecting Plants: Choose a variety of sempervivum that appeals to you. There are many to choose from, with different sizes, shapes, and colors available.
• Choosing a Location: Sempervivum plants need a location in full sun to light shade. They also need excellent drainage to avoid root rot, making them ideal for rock gardens, slopes, or containers with drainage holes. If planting in a container, it can be helpful to add some gravel or small rocks to the bottom to improve drainage.
• Preparing the Soil: Prepare your soil by ensuring it is well-draining. Sempervivum prefers slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil. A mix of 1/2 potting soil and 1/2 sand or a well-draining succulent mix is generally suitable.
• Planting: Plant your sempervivum so that the base of the rosette is level with the soil. If you’re planting multiple, they can be planted about 6 inches (15 cm) apart.
• Watering: After planting, water thoroughly, then let the soil dry out completely before watering again. During the growing season (spring and summer), watering can be done every 7-10 days. In the winter, watering should be minimal.
• Feeding: Generally, sempervivum does not require feeding. If your plants appear to be struggling, a diluted water-soluble fertilizer can be used in the spring, but avoid high-nitrogen mixes, which can cause overly soft growth.
• Propagation: Sempervivum are easy to propagate from offsets (the “chicks”). Simply remove them from the main plant and replant elsewhere.
• Winter Care: Most sempervivum varieties are hardy and can survive cold winters, but they should be protected from excessive moisture, as this can cause rot.