Native to Southern Europe and Western Asia, Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks or Houseleek) is a mat-forming succulent, that produces irresistible, evergreen rosettes of thick, fleshy leaves. Cute but tough, their beauty resides largely in their infinite variations. They are available in a wide range of colors, from light to dark green to brown, pink and purple, either at the tips of the leaves or throughout the whole plant. The leaves may be pointed or rounded, glossy or matte, with a waxy bloom or with downy hairs. Their foliage colors vary with the sun exposure, the seasons and the climate.

The mother rosette (Hen) spreads in all directions by horizontal stems to form offsets (chicks). Each offset will develop roots of its own and become independent of the parent plant as the connecting stolon withers. In summer, a thick flowering stalk, that can reach over 24 in. in height (60 cm), arises from the center of the hen rosette and bears showy starry flowers, usually pink or white. The blossoms last about 2-4 weeks.

Sempervivums are monocarpic: they die after flowering. However, most species and cultivars produce many offsets (or 'chicks') which usually make up for the losses after flowering.

There are over 40 or so species and hundreds of ravishing cultivars.