Hens and chicks plants are mat-forming succulents native to Europe and Africa that appear as clusters of rosettes. The parent rosettes are the “hens” and therefore the smaller rosettes that spring from them are the “chicks.” A low-growing perennial, hens and chicks will quickly spread to 2 feet or more in breadth through manual propagation or self-propagation. Although typically grown for his or her interesting shape and succulent leaves (which are mostly red, green, blue, gold, or copper), hens and chicks do sometimes flower on a tall stalk.

This hardy succulent is extremely easy to grow and works particularly well in rock gardens also as in containers. you’ll let the plants crowd or achieve the chicks and replant them to start out their own families. they need a moderately-quick rate of growth and are best planted in spring—however, if you’d wish to grow new plants from seed, you’ll want to start out them in pots within the fall therefore the young plants are able to enter the garden within the spring.

Watch Now: the way to Grow and look after a Hens and Chicks Plant

Hens and Chicks Care

As drought-tolerant succulents, hens, and chicks plants are among the simplest perennials for rock gardens—they also grow well in cracks, whether in stone walls or between garden stepping stones. In their native Europe, they were grown on thatched roofs to assist prevent fires and supply a winter vegetable, as they’re edible.

If you’re trying to find a ground cover, you’ll replace your lawn with a mixture of hens and chicks plus creeping sedum. Your hens will spread via underground roots and can produce a minimum of four chicks each season . These little plants are called offsets and may be broken off and transplanted to new areas do you have to choose.

The hens may flower within the summer, which may happen after one year or after several years. The flowers are dramatic, but the mother hen will die after flowering, and you ought to remove the dead plant. Flowering also can be a symbol of poor conditions, so you would possibly make sure drainage and sun are adequate within the spot where the mother was growing.

Light

Grow your hens and chicks plants fully sun (at least six hours daily), which can cause both optimal colorations within the foliage, also as ample “offspring.” That being said, the plants can grow in partial shade also, especially if being cared for in an especially hot, dry climate.

Soil

Hens and chicks plants are especially unfussy about their soil and can grow best during a mixture that’s poor and sandy. the most soil requirement for the plant is that it’s well-draining. If your soil is heavy and doesn’t drain well, work some peat into the mixture to extend the aeration and drainage. If you’re growing your plants during a container, the simplest potting medium may be a mix formulated for succulents and cactus. you’ll also choose a pot that’s made up of clay or terracotta to assist wick extra moisture from the soil. The hens and chicks plant also prefers a soil pH that’s neutral.

Water

Hens and chicks are drought-tolerant perennials, in order that they can withstand going weeks at a time without proper watering. Give newly transplanted plants sufficient water to assist them get established, but once they’re , take care to not over-water them. Check the soil and confirm it’s dry before watering.

Temperature and Humidity

Hens and chicks are often successfully grown during a range of temperatures but prefer a mean climate between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If temperatures drop too low, they’re going to not necessarily die out but will certainly stop growing and enter a semi-dormant state. Additionally, hens and chicks tolerate a good range of humidity levels and are quite popular in dry climates.

Fertilizer

This ground cover will thrive in poor soils, so there’s no got to fertilize hens and chicks plants.

Hens and Chicks Varieties

Many cultivars are developed from the Sempervivum genus, including:

• ‘Bernstein’: a varietal with copper and gold leaves
• ‘Big Blue’: an attention-grabbing version with bluish-green leaves
• ‘Black’: a shocking version with green leaves that have purple tips
• ‘Terracotta Baby’: a varietal with vibrant orangey-red foliage