Hens and Chicks
Sempervivum tectorum
Family Crassulaceae
Hens and chicks is the succulent that laughs at winter — those neat, geometric rosettes ride out zone-3 cold in a rock crevice, a trough, even a living roof. Each mother rosette surrounds herself with offsets until bare gravel becomes a quilt of jade, bronze, and burgundy.
There is no easier way into succulents outdoors: sun, grit, and neglect are the entire recipe, and the colony renews itself forever — when a hen finally blooms and bows out, her chicks close the gap. Tuck a few into the driest crack you own and watch.
Full Sun
Low water
Slow growth
Attracts bees
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing hens and chicks? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries hens and chicks — Sempervivum tectorum, print Nº 231, “Hens and Chicks.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what hens and chicks actually needs.
Hardy inZones 3-8Hens and Chicks · Common problems
Common hens and chicks problems
Pests
1 problem on file
- Almost none
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Rot in soggy soil
Hens and Chicks · Growing & propagation
Growing hens and chicks
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Very low
Soak then dry; rots in wet
Soil- Gritty, sharp drainage
Roof-tile tough · pH 6.0 - 7.5
Fertilizer- None
Pruning- As needed
Pull the spent bloomer; the ring of chicks fills the gap. Divide and share offsets endlessly.
Spacing- 4-6 in
Spreads by offsets
How to plant & propagate hens and chicks
- Propagate
- Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups
Hens and Chicks · Seasonal care & spray guidance
The hens and chicks growing playbook
When to spray hens and chicks
Growing season. Drainage.
Hens and Chicks · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Hens and Chicks · Yearly calendar
The hens and chicks year, month by month
No fixed season calendar for hens and chicks — its care follows conditions, not the calendar.
Hens and Chicks · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Sempervivum tectorum
Hens and Chicks in the garden system
- Groundcover layer succulent
- Living mulch
Attracts- Bees
Habitat- Dry/rocky
Moisture- Upland / dry
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What hens and chicks is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Use- Rock gardens
- Use
- Troughs
- Use
- Living roofs
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Hens and Chicks · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a hens and chicks variety
Hundreds — 'Red', 'Cobweb' (webbed), giant and tiny forms; endlessly collectible
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Hens and Chicks
Sempervivum tectorum
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Sempervivum tectorum
- Plant family
- Crassulaceae
- Growth habit
- Succulent · Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- SETE5
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Questions
Hens and Chicks questions, answered straight.
Is hens and chicks safe for kids and pets?
Hens and Chicks is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate hens and chicks?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
Elsewhere
Where hens and chicks sits in the library.
Nasturtium
Juniper
Blue Fescue
Hardy Ice Plant