Hens and chicks

About Hens and chicks

Hens and chicks are tiny, tough, winter-hardy succulents: tight rosettes of thick, pointed leaves, often tipped red or purple, where each big 'hen' ringed by small 'chick' offsets slowly makes a mat (NC State, Oklahoma State). They come from the mountains of southern Europe, not the U.S., and the name Sempervivum means 'live forever' (NC State). Each rosette blooms only once on a thick stalk and then dies, but its chicks carry on. They cross easily, so there are many hybrids to collect (Oklahoma State).

Hardy in zones 3-8 (NC State); give it afternoon shade in very hot, sunny spots.

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Plant in groups or as a mass in rock gardens, wall crevices, bed edges, containers and green roofs (NC State). Let the soil dry between waterings. Pull off chicks and replant them to make more; seed works too (NC State).

Soil

Sandy or gravelly soil with sharp drainage; it does fine in poor soil, and moist soil brings crown and root rot (NC State, Oklahoma State).

Plant in sandy or gravelly, sharply drained soil; poor soil is fine (NC State).

Feeding

Overwatering is the main killer: it causes crown rot (NC State), and moist soil leads to root rot (Oklahoma State).

Harvest

Rosettes bloom in summer on thick 8-12 in stalks of starry flowers. A rosette dies after it flowers; pull it out then and let the chicks fill the gap (NC State).

Varieties (2)

NC State documents 2 named forms; Oklahoma State notes the plant hybridizes readily, so hundreds are sold, but we found no other extension source naming them.

Diseases and problems

Crown rot, Root rot

In the kitchen

Safety: No toxicity is listed in the extension sources we used; it isn't a food plant.

Pets: Not listed by the ASPCA under Sempervivum or houseleek. The ASPCA's 'hens and chickens' entry is a different succulent, Echeveria elegans, which it rates non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.