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Sempervivum
Colorful, Low-Maintenance Succulents
Sempervivum, commonly known as Hens and Chicks or Houseleeks, are fantastic additions to almost any garden within their hardiness zones (3-9). Here is why they are a great choice for both novice and seasoned gardeners:
- Incredible Hardiness: Unlike many succulents, Sempervivum are exceptionally cold-tolerant, surviving freezing temperatures down to zone 3 (-40°F / -40°C). They handle heat well into zone 9, provided they have good drainage.
- Extremely Low Maintenance: Once established, they require minimal care. They are drought-tolerant and thrive on neglect, making them perfect for busy gardeners or those new to plants.
- Drought Tolerance: Their fleshy leaves store water, allowing them to withstand extended dry periods. Overwatering is a greater risk than underwatering.
- Stunning Variety: They come in a vast array of colors (greens, reds, purples, blues, golds, near-blacks), textures (smooth, fuzzy, webbed), and forms. Colors often change dramatically with the seasons, sunlight levels, and temperature, providing year-round interest.
- Versatile Uses: Sempervivum excel in:
- Rock Gardens: Their natural habitat, thriving in gritty soil between stones.
- Containers: Perfect for pots, troughs, strawberry jars, and mixed succulent bowls. Ensure pots have drainage holes!
- Groundcover: They spread readily via offsets ("chicks") to form dense mats.
- Green Roofs & Living Walls: Their shallow root system and drought tolerance make them ideal candidates.
- Crevice Planting: Tuck them into cracks in walls or pathways.
- Crafts: Used in living wreaths and other creative projects.
- Easy Propagation: The "hen" (main rosette) produces offsets or "chicks." These can be left to expand the clump or easily detached and replanted elsewhere.
Generally, Pest & Disease Resistant: Their main enemy is rot caused by poor drainage or overwatering. Pests are infrequent.
Ideal Timing: Plant in spring or early fall. This gives them time to establish roots before summer heat or winter cold extremes.
Choosing a Location:
- Sunlight: Full sun (6+ hours/day) is ideal for best color and compact growth. In very hot climates (southern parts of zone 8, zone 9), some afternoon shade can prevent scorching, though they often tolerate full sun even there if well-established.
- Drainage: This is the single most crucial factor. Sempervivum must have excellent drainage. Avoid low spots where water collects. Slopes, raised beds, containers, and rock gardens are naturally advantageous.
Soil Preparation:
- Key: Gritty, well-draining soil. They do not like heavy clay or constant moist conditions.
- In-Ground: Amend native soil generously with coarse sand, grit, gravel, perlite, or pumice. Avoid adding rich compost or manure, which can hold too much moisture and promote rot.
- Containers: Use a commercial cactus/succulent mix or create your own by mixing potting soil with 50% or more grit (coarse sand, perlite, pumice, or fine gravel). Ensure pots have ample drainage holes.
Planting Process:
- Prepare Hole: Dig a shallow hole just large enough for the root ball. Sempervivum have shallow root systems.
- Spacing: Space plants according to their mature size (check specific variety) and how quickly you want coverage. Allow a few inches between plants if you want them to fill in with chicks.
- Planting Depth: Place the rosette so the base is level with the surrounding soil. Do not bury the crown (where the leaves emerge) as this encourages rot.
- Firm Soil: Gently firm the soil around the base.
- Watering: Water lightly after planting to settle the soil.
Ongoing Care:
- Watering: Water thoroughly but infrequently. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Check by sticking your finger an inch or two into the soil. Reduce watering significantly during winter dormancy. Never let them sit in soggy soil. Container plants may need more frequent watering than in-ground plants, especially during hot, dry weather.
- Fertilizing: Generally, not required. They thrive in lean soil. If desired, a very light feeding with a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer in early spring is sufficient. Over-fertilizing leads to weak, stretched growth and reduced hardiness.
- Dealing with Offsets ('Chicks'): Let them be to form a dense mat or gently twist or snip them off (ideally with a few roots attached) and replant them.
- Flowering & Monocarpic Nature: Sempervivum are monocarpic, meaning a rosette (the "hen") flowers only once, typically after 2-3 years or more. After blooming, that specific rosette will die. Simply remove the dead flower stalk and rosette; the surrounding chicks will live on and continue the cycle.
- Winter Care (Zones 3-9): Their primary need in winter is excellent drainage to prevent crowns from rotting in cold, wet soil. They are naturally very cold hardy and typically require no special winter protection within their designated zones. Their appearance may change in winter (closing up, colors deepening).
- Pests & Diseases: Watch for root rot (caused by poor drainage). Mealybugs or aphids can occasionally appear; treat with insecticidal soap or isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab if necessary. Deer and rabbits usually leave them alone.
By providing excellent drainage and resisting the urge to overwater, gardeners in zones 3-9 can easily enjoy the diverse beauty and resilience of Sempervivum.
Sempervivum (sem-per-vye-vum), houseleeks, liveforever and, hen and chicks; Crassulaceae Family. Sempervivum are evergreen perennials of the Old World, consisting of a rootstock topped by a tight cluster of mostly incurving, fleshy leaves, forming an almost globular rosette. Short runners, growing out from the root, terminate in smaller duplicates of the central leaf tuft. Clusters of white, pink yellow or purple flowers on stems grow out of the centers of the leaf rosettes. Sempervivum succeed in any well-drained, moderately fertile soil, preferably in full sun, although most kinds will tolerate light shade. Primarily grown for their foliage, they make good plants for rock gardens and are particularly suitable for narrow rock crevices and chinks dry walls as long as there is enough soil to accommodate the roots.
Easy to grow in full sun to partial shade, and well-drained soil. While they are adaptable to a variety of soil types, they will do best in coarse, sandy soil. Although Semervivums can tolerate frosty conditions, excessive watering, fertilizer or humidity may cause rot.
Plant in rock gardens, alpine gardens, troughs and containers. Though hens will die after flowering, they will produce numerous chicks to take their place. To propagate, simply split off the chickens from the parent plant and transplant them. Providing contact with the soil should be sufficient for transplanting, since Sempervivum root readily. If a groundcover effect is desired, space plants close together because they grow slowly. Deer and Rabbit resistant.
Attributes: Border plants, Containers, Evergreen, Ground cover, Salt Tolerant, Small / Miniature, Easy to grow.