Succulent & cactus
Hens-and-Chicks
Sempervivum tectorum
Rosettes that multiply into colonies and shrug off −30°F. The crevice-garden classic.
- Evergreen
- Groundcover
- Deer-resistant
Quick facts
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 3–8
- Water
- Very low once established
- Sun
- Full sun to Part sun
- Size
- 2–6 in. tall × 6–12 in. wide
- Bloom & interest
- Evergreen rosettes; star-shaped pink flowers on a stalk in summer (the flowering rosette then dies)
- Plant type
- Succulent & cactus
- Native range
- Not native to the US (non-invasive garden plant)
Why we recommend it
An indestructible evergreen succulent rosette for rock gardens and green roofs, thriving in gravel with essentially no water and extreme cold hardiness.
Best regions: Front RangeGreat BasinHigh Desert
How to grow it
Watering to establish
Water lightly once a week for the first month; afterward only in extended drought.
Pruning
Pull out rosettes that have flowered (they die after blooming); offsets fill the gap.
Soil
Gravelly, sandy or crevice soil with perfect drainage. Never plant in rich, moist soil.
Pairs well with
Read more
Where to buy
Shop Hens-and-Chicks from trusted growers. For the best selection of xeric plants, try a mail-order specialist or ask a local independent nursery.
- High Country Gardens (opens in a new tab)Xeric specialist
- Nature Hills Nursery (opens in a new tab)Wide selection
- American Meadows (opens in a new tab)Perennials & seeds
- Etsy (opens in a new tab)Small growers
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