Sempervivum ‘Commander Hay’ (Hens and Chicks)

Sempervivum ‘Commander Hay’ (Hens & Chicks) is a mat-forming succulent perennial forming attractive, evergreen rosettes, 4 in. wide (10 cm), of fleshy, purplish-red leaves adorned with pointed, bright green tips. 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 arises from the center of the hen rosette and bears showy starry, greenish-red flowers. Sempervivums are monocarpic: they die after flowering. However, the offsets (or ‘chicks’) they produce usually make up for the losses and fill the gaps left by the dead rosettes. Cute, but tough, this Sempervivum is tolerant of heat, drought and shade.

• Grows up to 4-6 in. tall (10-15 cm) and 9-12 in. wide (22-30 cm). Will spread by offsets to form colonies
• Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Tolerates poor soils and thrives in sandy or gravelly soils. Excellent drainage is required. Drought tolerant.
• Surprisingly cold hardy, Sempervivums need little maintenance once established, like many cacti and succulents, and will survive near total neglect!
• Excellent for dry stony places, Sempervivums are great in cracks in dry stone walls, at the front of beds and borders, or as a small area groundcover. They look splendid in rock gardens, succulent gardens or Mediterranean gardens. Ideal as edging plant or in decorative trough and containers! Best when planted in groups or intermingled in mosaics.
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Virtually pest and disease free. Watch for rust, leaf rot and root rot
• Propagate by seed sown in spring, or root offsets in spring
• Native to Southern Europe and Western Asia.